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10 Unexpected Railroad Workers Tips
Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn’t done enough to clean the underground plume that was contaminated with rail yard. Now, the most recent tests have revealed that the contamination may still be affecting people who live nearby.


Researchers suggest it could be related to the elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years after launching a state-wide health investigation the researchers discovered that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the region around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is one of the most common chemicals used to treat wood. It can cause cancer in those who are exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smokey smell and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years to preserve wood.

It is employed in the United States to treat railroad tiesand other types of woods like fence posts, utility poles, and pilings from marine construction. It can also be used to protect log homes and other structures from insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote can be a hazardous chemical. In short-term exposure, it can cause eye and skin irritation chemical burns, stomach pain burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney issues.

Long-term exposure can lead to skin and scrotum carcinomas. This is a serious concern for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

According to the EPA, it is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with a variety kinds of cancers including esophageal and lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote because of a former railroad yard that was close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their soil, homes, and continues to spread underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the initiative to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test regularly for contamination and to take steps to stop the spread of the disease.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote has contaminated their soil, causing significant health problems from the former rail yard.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering, as well as damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup and other costs. They claim to have been harmed by racism in the environment discrimination, sexism, and other types of pollution that has affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that aren't able to break down in the environment quickly , and can remain in the air, water soil or in sediment for a long time. They are found in many places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke, and incineration or hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health in low concentrations aren't yet known however, there is evidence to suggest that they could cause serious illnesses , such as cancer. People exposed to higher levels of dioxin have been found to be at a higher risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune system problems, and endocrine issues, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal issues, suppressed immunity as well as diabetes, menstrual problems 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 are not volatile or water-soluble, which means they are more easily absorbed by the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.

But it is important to remember that the amount of exposure that has adverse effects on your health is dependent on various factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, the frequency you drink or eat, and how much air you breathe. It is also important to consider your age, gender and diet, nutritional status and family characteristics, as well as other health factors that may affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant is also important. According to the EPA the EPA, certain toxins are more dangerous than others to human health. For instance, polychlorinated benzene (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental effect on your health than creosote.

PCBs can cause damage to eyes and kidneys, liver, and kidneys. They can also harm the immune system of a person and affect the development of healthy teeth and bones.

For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a rash of cancer deaths that has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their neighborhoods. The city's health department said on Friday that it had found cancer-causing chemical compounds in surface samples near the rail yard. The announcement said that the findings were not encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan submitted to Texas environmental regulators wouldn't be sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. After they were proven to cause cancer and suppress the immune system the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

PCBs can cause contamination of soil or water as well as air in many areas of the world once they are released into the environment. They bind strongly to organic matter, and tend to be persistent which means they are simple to transport and accumulate in the environment.

PCBs are a major problem for the protection of the environment and public health. The EPA considers them a potential human carcinogen , and has demonstrated that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly applicable to children who have been exposed to these chemicals while during pregnancy.

PCBs are mainly consumed through food items. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that has been polluted with PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills from electrical and other equipment.

Railroad Workers Cancer can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or by skin contact. These chemicals can trigger a condition called Chloracne. This is small pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that last for several weeks to several years.

However, the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet fully known. Researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However there is more research needed to better understand how this impacts us.

EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals cause birth defects for newborns, including lower birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. Two studies found that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or a later age.

Lead

Lead is a highly toxic metal that is present in a variety of products like paints pipes and food containers. It can be absorbed by the body through two major pathways: oral and respiratory.

It is an extremely antioxidant that can react with other chemicals present in the environment. This can lead to its accumulation in the body , and could lead to serious health problems like cancer, among other diseases.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's creosote facility have a high incidence of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in cleaning up the railroad's toxic site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The company has tried to get rid of the mess, but a plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough residents say.

The plume of groundwater below homes in the affected area is one of the most dangerous effects of the contamination. A recent study conducted by the health department has revealed that the concentration of creosote in soil samples near the rail yard is much higher than the recommended levels for drinking water.

Another concern is that creosote is slowly disappearing into the air. It causes residents to breathe harmful levels of vapors which can be fatal for children as well as adults.

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

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a tragic situation and must be addressed immediately.

A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services discovered that children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a form leukemia at a five-fold higher rate than the average. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.

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