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15 Inspiring Facts About Railroad Workers That You'd Never Been Educated About
Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?


For decades, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to clean up the creosote sludge that is buried at its contaminated rail yard. The most recent tests have shown that the contamination may be in the vicinity of residents.

Researchers say it may be related to the elevated cancer rates in the region. Two years after launching an investigation across the state on health, researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic cancer in children as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical, is that is used in the treatment of wood. It can cause cancer in people exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance, from amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preserver.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other kinds of wood including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It can also be used to shield log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) creosote can be an extremely dangerous chemical. Exposure to creosote for short periods can result in skin and eye irritation as well as chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of mouth or throat as well as liver or kidney problems and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum carcinomas. This is a major concern for those who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

It is believed to be a human carcinogen as per the EPA. It has been linked with various cancers, including esophageal as well as lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades, thanks to the former rail yard that was located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, soil and continues to spread underground.

The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to stop it from spreading.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil under their homes and causing significant health problems.

They are seeking compensation for their diseases and suffering, as well as damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup and other associated costs. They also claim that they are affected by environmental racism and discrimination, and other forms of pollution that have adversely affected their families and friends.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that don't break down quickly in the environment and they can stay in the soil, air, or in sediment for a long time. They can be found in a variety of sources, such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin are not clear at low levels, however there is evidence to suggest that they can trigger cancer and other serious diseases. Patients who are exposed at higher levels are believed to be at risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system disorders and endocrine changes including hormonal imbalances. They can also cause hormonal issues, weakened immunity womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most prevalent way people are exposed to the toxins is through water and food. They aren't water-soluble or volatile, so they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.

However, it is crucial to remember that the amount of exposure that will have negative effects on your health depends on many factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, the frequency you consume alcohol or food, and how much you breathe. You should also consider your gender, age, nutrition, and family traits to determine whether you will be exposed to dioxins.

Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is another important aspect. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on human health than others. For instance, polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental impact on your health than creosote.

PCBs can cause damage to eyes and kidneys, liver, and kidneys. They can also harm the immune system and cause problems with the growth of healthy bones, teeth and bones.

For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a string of cancer deaths that has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their communities. The city's health department announced Friday that it has found cancer-causing chemical compounds in surface samples near the rail yard. The release stated that the findings were "not encouraging." FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan proposed by Texas environmental regulators will not suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. These chemicals were banned in 1979 after being proven to cause cancer, suppress the immune system, and interfere with learning.

Once released into the natural environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil in a variety of areas around the world. They are extremely binders to organic matter, and are often persistent and therefore, are easy to transport and build up in the environment.

This is why PCBs are a major threat for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been demonstrated to cause cancer in lab animals.

Certain studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially applicable to children who have been exposed to these chemicals during the pregnancy.

Union Pacific Cancer Cluster for exposure to PCBs is through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products, and other agricultural products.

Another way to get exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. This could be caused by leaks or spillages in electrical or other equipment.

People can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or by skin contact. These chemicals can cause the condition known as chloracne which is a mild, small yellow skin lesions which can last from a few weeks to a few years.

The effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely recognized. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver or biliary tract cancer in humans, but more research is needed to find out how this affects us.

EPA has also been examining whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns, such as less weight at birth. The low birth weight of newborns is associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. Two studies revealed that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or later in life.

Lead

Lead is a highly toxic metal that can be found in a variety of items including paints, pipes, and food cans. The body can absorb it through two major routes: respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely antioxidant and can react with other chemicals found in the environment. This can lead to it accumulating in the body , and could lead to serious health problems like cancer and other diseases.

In Houston residents living near a creosote treatment facility owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to order the railroad to clean up its contaminated site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a history in which it has been a source of contamination for its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Residents claim that the company has been working to eliminate the contamination, but the plan that was submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

The plume of groundwater that flows below the homes in the affected area is one of the most severe effects of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has shown that soil samples from the rail yard have a higher concentration of creosote than the recommended amount for drinking water.

Another concern is that creosote is slowly disappearing into the air. As it does, it is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors, which are harmful to children as well as adults.

It is also possible that vapors are causing cancers in the people who breathe the vapors in. To learn more about the effects of the vapors in the lives of residents, a door-to-door survey is being conducted in the neighborhood.

This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a terribly sad situation that needs to be dealt with immediately.

A Department of State Health Services study found that the rate of leukemia was five times higher for children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than was anticipated. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more frequent in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.

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