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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

For Cancer Lawsuit , neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to clean up creosote in the underground air at its contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have demonstrated that contamination could still be in the vicinity of residents.

Researchers believe that it could be due to the high rate of cancers that are found in the area. Two years into a health study conducted by the state they discovered higher than expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical used for the treatment of wood is also a very common one. It is also a toxic substance and can cause cancers in those exposed to it.

It is a thick oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smokey smell and a burnt taste. It is a coal tar distillation product and has been in use for over 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.

It is widely used in the United States to treat railroad tiesand other types of woods, including fence posts, utility poles, and pilings for marine structures. It can also be used for protecting log homes and other structures against insects and rot.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) creosote can be an extremely dangerous chemical. Short-term exposure can cause skin and eye irritation, chemical burns, stomach pain and burning of the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver problems.

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

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

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote due to a railroad yard that was close to their homes. They claim the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil, and it continues to spread throughout the underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test regularly for contamination and take measures to stop it from spreading.

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 from the railroad to pay the costs of cleaning up and other related costs. They claim they are suffering from environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other types of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that do not degrade quickly in the environment and they can stay in the soil, air, or sediment for a lengthy time. They can come from various sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't identified yet, there is evidence suggesting that they can cause serious diseases like cancer. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked to increased risk for organ cancers, heart disease as well as immune-related issues and endocrine disorders, including hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to hormonal problems, suppressed immunity as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most common way that people are exposed dioxin is through drinking water or food. They aren't volatile nor water-soluble, so they are easily taken in by the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.

However, it is crucial to remember that the level of exposure that has a harmful effect on your health is contingent upon many factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, how often you drink or eat and the amount of air you breathe. You should also consider your gender and age, as well as your nutrition and family characteristics to determine if you will be exposed to dioxins.

The kind of contaminant used is also important. According to the EPA, some toxins are more dangerous than others for the health of humans. For example, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental impact on your health than creosote.

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

For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a series of cancer-related deaths which has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their neighborhoods. The announcement released on Friday by Houston's health department claimed that it found cancer-causing chemicals on samples of the rail yard. The release stated that the results 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 will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for over 60 years. They were banned in 1979 following being found to cause cancer, inhibit the immune system, and interfere with learning.

PCBs can cause contamination of soil and water as well as air in many parts of the world after they are released into the environment. They are powerful binders of organic matter and can be easily transported and accumulated into the environment.

PCBs are a major issue to protect the environment and public health. The EPA is adamant that they are a human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

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

PCBs are most commonly ingested through food. Fish is the main source of exposure because they contain the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in dairy products, beef and other agricultural products.

Showering and drinking water is another method of exposure. This could be caused by leaks or spills from electrical and other equipment.

People may 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 lesions that last for months or even years.

The effects of PCBs upon human health are still not completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However further research is required to discover how this affects us.


The EPA is also studying whether these chemicals might cause birth defects in newborn babies. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease later in life. Two studies revealed that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights , and/or later in life.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal and is found in many products, such as paints, pipes, and food cans. It is absorbed by the body through two main routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a powerful oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals found in the environment. It is able to accumulate within the body, which could cause serious health issues such as cancer and other diseases.

Houston residents who live near the Union Pacific Railroad's legacy creosote plant have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government for an order to the railroad to clean its toxic site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. The company has tried to eliminate the contamination, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient residents claim.

One of the major problems that arose from the contamination was the plume of groundwater that is located beneath homes in the area. A recent study by health officials has found that soil samples from the rail yard contain an increased amount of creosote than is recommended for drinking water.

Another issue is the slow release of creosote from the atmosphere. As it escapes, it causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors, which are dangerous for children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer among those who inhale them. A door-to-door health survey is currently being carried out in the neighborhood to learn more about how the vapors are impacting the lives of residents.

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

A Department of State Health Services study discovered that leukemia rates were five times higher for children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than what was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in these areas than in other areas of Texas.

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