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Why Adding Railroad Workers To Your Life Will Make All The Different
Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn’t taken the necessary steps to clean the underground plume that was contaminated with rail yard. The latest tests have shown that the contamination could be an issue for residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it is due to the large number of cancers found in the region. Two years into a health study conducted by the state and they found higher than expected rates of childhood leukemia as well as adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a popular chemical that is used to treat wood, is also a common one. It can cause cancer in those who are exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance which is black or amber-colored and has a smoky smell and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been in use for over 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.

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

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares that creosote may be a hazardous chemical. In the event of exposure to creosote for a short periods can result in skin and eye irritation and chemical burns, stomach pains, burning in the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.

According to the EPA, it is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to many types of cancer that include esophageal aswell as lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for years, thanks to an old rail yard located near their homes. They claim the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They are requesting that the company tests frequently for contamination and take steps to prevent the spread of the disease.

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

They are seeking compensation for their illnesses and suffering as well as damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleaning and other costs. They claim they've been harmed by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other types of pollution that has affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that don't break down in environment quickly , and can remain in the air, in the soil or sediment for long periods. They can be found in a variety of places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke, and incineration or hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't yet known but there is evidence that they could cause serious illnesses like cancer. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked with an increased risk for heart disease, organ cancers immune issues, and endocrine issues, including hormonal imbalances. They can also cause hormonal issues, weakened immunity and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most prevalent 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, fish and other seafood.

It is nevertheless important to be aware that the amount of exposure that has negative effects on your health is dependent on several factors, such as the amount you eat or drink, how often you drink or eat, and how much air you breathe. It is also essential to take into consideration your age, gender, diet, nutritional status and family characteristics along with other health factors that may affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.


The kind of contaminant used is equally important. According to the EPA certain toxins are more dangerous than others for human health. For instance, polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative effect on your health than creosote.

For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They can also damage a person's immune system and interfere with the growth of healthy bones and teeth.

For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a string of cancer deaths that have been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their homes. The announcement made by the city's health department stated that it had identified cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the surface near the rail yard. The announcement said 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 submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been employed in industrial and consumer products for over 60 years. PCBs were banned in 1979 following being discovered to cause cancer, inhibit the immune system and inhibit learning.

PCBs can be harmful to soil and water as well as air in many parts of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are strong binders of organic matter that can be easily transported and accumulated into the environment.

PCBs are a significant concern to protect the environment and public health. The EPA considers them a probable human carcinogen , and has demonstrated that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Railroad Cancer link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially the case for children exposed these chemicals while pregnant.

PCBs are most commonly consumed through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. However, PCBs can also found in dairy products, beef and other agricultural products.

Showering or drinking PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This can happen from leaks or spills that could occur in electrical and other equipment.

People may also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or coming into contact with skin. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as chloracne which is a small, pale yellow skin lesions that can last from weeks to years.

The effects of PCBs on the human body are not fully comprehended. Researchers have suggested that they may cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However further research is required to understand how this affects us.

EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns, like lower birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular disease. In two studies, children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower body weight at birth, and/or later in childhood.

Lead

Lead is a highly toxic metal that can be found in many products like paints, pipes and food containers. The body absorbs it through two routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a powerful chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your environment. It is able to accumulate within the body, which can lead to serious health problems like cancer and other ailments.

In Houston the residents who live near a legacy creosote treatment facility run by Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government for an order to the railroad to clean up its contaminated facility.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of polluting its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, like creosote. Residents say that the company has been trying to remove the contamination but the plan that was submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

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

Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors which are harmful for children as well as adults.

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

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

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

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