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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. The most recent tests have shown that the contamination may be affecting residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it's due to the large number of cancers found in the region. Railroad Workers into a state health investigation, they found higher-than-expected rates of childhood leukemia as well as adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers within the communities around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is one of the most common chemicals that is used in the treatment of wood. It is also a poisonous substance that can cause cancer in those exposed to it.

It is a thick, oily substance that is amber or black in color and has a smoky smell and a burnt flavor. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.


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

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that creosote may be an extremely hazardous chemical. A short-term exposure could cause irritation to the skin and eyes as well as chemical burns stomach discomfort burning of the mouth or throat, and kidney or liver issues.

Long-term exposure can lead to skin and scrotum cancers. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are susceptible to cancer.

It is regarded as a possible human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked with a variety kinds of cancers such as esophageal or lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for a long time due to a former rail yard near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, soil and is spreading underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test regularly for contamination , and take steps to stop it from spreading.

In October of 2017, a group comprised of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote was a source of contamination in their soil and caused significant health problems from the former rail yard.

They are seeking damages from the railroad in order to cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they have been harmed by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that have affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which aren't able to break down in the environment quickly and can remain in the air, soil, or sediment for a long time. They can be found in a variety of places that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration and hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels are not yet known yet, there is evidence suggesting that they can trigger serious illnesses like cancer. The people who are exposed to higher levels are believed to be at risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system problems and endocrine imbalances including hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to hormonal problems, suppressed immunity womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most popular way people are exposed to the toxins is through food and water. They aren't volatile and water-soluble, so they are easily to be absorbed by the body through the intake of dairy products, meat as well as fish and other seafood.

But it is important to remember that the level of exposure that could have a harmful effect on your health will depend on various factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you consume alcohol or food, and how often you breathe. It is also essential to take into consideration your gender, age and diet, nutritional status and family traits along with other factors in your health that could affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant is crucial. According to the EPA, some toxins are more dangerous than others for the health of humans. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, are more likely than creosote negatively impact your health.

For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They also can harm a person's immune system and affect the development of healthy teeth and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster cancer deaths connected to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is right next to their homes. The city's health department said on Friday that it had discovered cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The release stated that the findings were "not encouraging." FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposal submitted by Texas environmental regulators won't suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in consumer and industrial products. After they were proven to cause cancer and inhibit the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.

PCBs can cause contamination of soil or water as well as air in many regions of the world once they are released into the environment. They are strong binders of organic matter that can be easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a significant concern for the protection of the environment and public health. The EPA considers them a probable human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly relevant for children who are exposed to these chemicals in the womb.

The primary route for exposure to PCBs is through food items. Fish are the primary source of exposure since they are the largest source of PCBs. However, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is affected by PCBs. This can be caused by leaks or spills that can occur in electrical and other equipment.

In the same way, people can be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or through their skin. These chemicals can trigger 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 upon the human body are not completely comprehended. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary tract cancers in humans, however more studies are needed to discover the extent to which this impacts us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals might cause birth defects in newborns. Low birth weight has been associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Two studies found that children with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights and/or an earlier age.

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal that can be found in many products including paints, pipes, and food cans. It can be absorbed by the body through two major routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a potent oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals present in the environment. It can build up within the body and can cause serious health issues like cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live close to a creosote-based treatment plant run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has requested the federal government for an order to the railroad to clean up the site that is contaminated.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contaminating its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, such as creosote. The company has tried to eliminate the mess, but a plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough residents claim.

The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is among the most serious effects of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has found that soil samples from the rail yard have a higher concentration of creosote than is recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is the slow escape of creosote into the atmosphere. As it is, it is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors which are harmful for children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer for those who breathe them. A door-to-door health survey is currently being carried out in the neighborhood to discover more about how the vapors affect the lives of the residents.

This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a tragic situation that needs to be addressed immediately.

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

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/railroadcancersettlements