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10 Tips To Build Your Railroad Workers Empire
Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

For decades, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to clean up the creosote sludge that is buried at its rail yard that is contaminated. The latest tests have demonstrated that contamination is still affecting residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it's due to the high rate of cancers in the region. Two years after launching an investigation into health issues across the state the researchers discovered that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic childhood as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

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

It is a thick oily substance that's black or amber-colored and has a smoky smell and burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other types of wood including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. Cancer Lawsuit Settlements is also used to protect log houses and other structures from decay and insect infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) creosote can be potentially dangerous chemical. In short-term exposure, it can cause irritation to the skin and eyes chemical burns, stomach pain and burning in the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems.

Long-term exposure can lead to skin and scrotum cancers. This is a significant concern for those who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

According to the EPA it is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with a variety of cancers that include esophageal aswell as lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades, thanks to an old rail yard located near their homes. They say the chemical has affected their homes and soil, and it continues to spread throughout the underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination on a regular basis and implement preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.

In October of 2017 a group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote that was emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating soil beneath their homes and causing significant health issues.

They are seeking damages from the railroad in order to cover the cost of cleanup as well as other related costs. They claim they've suffered the effects of environmental racism discrimination, sexism, and other forms of pollution that affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances which do not break down quickly in the environment and can remain in the soil, air, or sediment for a long duration. They can be derived from many sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents smoking cigarettes, and the incineration process of hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels are not yet known but there is evidence that they can cause serious illnesses such as cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels of dioxin have been found to be at a higher risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system problems and endocrine issues such as hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive problems, a weakened immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues and weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most popular way people are exposed is through food and water. They are not water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be in the body through the consumption of dairy products or fish and other seafood.

It is vital to remember that exposure to chemicals can affect your health, based on numerous factors like how much you consume, drink, and how often you breathe. You should also take into consideration your gender and age, as well as your nutrition and family traits to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.

The kind of contaminant used is equally important. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to have a negative effect on human health than others. For instance, polychlorinated benzene (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative impact on your health than creosote.

PCBs can cause damage to the eyes as well as the liver, kidneys and kidneys. They can also damage the immune system and cause issues in the development of healthy bones, teeth and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for a long time about cluster of cancer deaths connected to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is right close to their homes. The announcement made by the city's health department revealed that they discovered cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples near the rail yard. The release said that the results were "not encouraging." FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposed plan by Texas environmental regulators won't suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in consumer and industrial products. After being shown to cause cancer and suppress the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil across the world. They are strong binders for organic matter, and are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a major issue for protecting the environment and public health. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been found to cause cancer in lab animals.

Certain studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly applicable to children who have been exposed to these chemicals while during the pregnancy.

The primary route of exposure to PCBs is through food items. Fish is the most common source of exposure, as they are the source of the most PCBs. But, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is contaminated with PCBs. This could be due to spills or leaks that may occur in electrical and other equipment.

Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or through the skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as Chloracne. It is a small pale, yellow-colored lesions that can last for months or even years.


However the effects of PCBs on human health aren't completely recognized. Researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However, more research is needed to better understand how this impacts us.

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

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal and is present in a wide range of products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. The body can absorb it through two major routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a powerful antioxidant that can react with other chemicals present in the environment. It is able to accumulate in the body, and can cause serious health issues such as cancer and other illnesses.

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

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having its rail yard contaminated in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals for humans, such as creosote. Cancer Lawsuit Settlements has been working to remove the contamination, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough, residents say.

One of the most significant problems that arose from the contamination was the plume of groundwater that is located beneath homes in the region. A recent study conducted by the department of health shows that the concentration of creosote present in soil samples in the rail yard is higher than the level recommended for drinking water.

Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote vapor is slowly escaping into the air. It can cause residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which can cause fatalities for children and adults.

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

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It is a sad situation and should be addressed immediately.

Railroad Cancer Lawsuit by the Department of State Health Services found that children in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a form of leukemia at a five times higher rate than expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.

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