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Five Railroad Workers Lessons Learned From Professionals
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 demonstrated that the contamination may be an issue for residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it could be related to elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years into a state health investigation they discovered higher than expected rates of childhood leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a chemical commonly that is used in the treatment of wood. It is also a cause of cancer in those who are exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance which is black or amber in appearance and has a smoky scent and burnt taste. Union Pacific Cancer Cluster is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preserver.

It is widely used in the United States to treat railroad ties, and other types woods like fence posts, utility poles, as well as pilings for marine structures. It is also used to protect log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote is a chemical that could be dangerous. In short-term exposure, it can cause irritation to the skin and eyes as well as chemical burns, stomach discomfort and burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems.

Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum carcinomas. This is a serious concern for workers who have direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

It is thought to be a probable human carcinogen, according to the EPA. Union Pacific Cancer has been linked with a variety of cancers, including esophageal as well lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote due to a railroad yard near their homes. They claim that 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 want the company to test regularly for contamination and take measures 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 that was emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes , causing significant health issues.


They are seeking damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim that they have been victimized by environmental racism and discrimination, in addition to other kinds of pollution that have adversely affected their families and friends.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which don't break down in the environment quickly and can remain in the air, soil or in sediment for long periods. They are found in many places in natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health aren't clear at low levels, however there is evidence that dioxin can trigger cancer and other serious illnesses. The people who are exposed to higher levels of dioxin have been found to have an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system disorders and endocrine disorders like hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger problems with hormones, immune suppression, diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most frequent way people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking water or food. They are not liquid or volatile, which means they are more likely to be in the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish and other seafood.

It is crucial to keep in mind, however, that exposure can cause harm to your health, depending on many factors , including how much you drink, eat, and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also essential to consider your age, gender, diet, nutritional status and family characteristics in addition to other health factors that can affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant crucial. The EPA declares that certain toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on human health than others. For example, polychlorinated biphenyls (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 affect the immune system and cause issues with 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 that are caused by the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is located next to their homes. The city's health department announced on Friday that it has found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The release said that 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 suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for more than 60 years. After being found to cause cancer and weaken the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.

PCBs can be harmful to soil or water as well as air in many regions of the world after they are released into the environment. They bind tightly to organic matter and tend to remain in the environment for a long time and therefore, are easy to transport and build up in the environment.

PCBs are a major issue for protecting the environment as well as public health. The EPA considers them to be a possible human carcinogen and has proved that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

In addition certain studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals while in the womb.

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

Showering and drinking water is another way to be exposed. This can happen from leaks or spills that could occur in electrical and other equipment.

Additionally, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or through the skin. These chemicals can trigger a condition called chloracne, which is a tiny, pale, yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.

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

The EPA is also studying whether these chemicals might cause birth defects in newborns. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in the course of. 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 poisonous metal that is found in many products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. It can be absorbed by the body through two main routes: respiratory and oral.

Union Pacific Cancer Cluster is a powerful chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals present in your environment. It is able to accumulate within the body and 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 asked the federal government to instruct the railroad to remove its contaminated 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 to humans, like creosote. Residents have claimed that the company has been working to clean up contamination but the proposal submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

The plume of groundwater below homes in the affected area is one of the most severe consequences of the contamination. A recent study conducted by health officials has revealed that soil samples taken from the rail yard have a higher concentration of creosote than is recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is the gradual release of creosote into the atmosphere. It is causing residents to breathe harmful levels of vapors which can be fatal for children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in those who breathe them. A door-to door health survey is being conducted in the area to learn more about the effects of the vapors on the lives of the residents.

This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a terribly sad situation that must be dealt with immediately.

A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services found that children in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a form leukemia that was five times greater rate than what 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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