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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 up an underground plume that is contaminated rail yard. And now, the latest tests show that the contamination could still be affecting people who live near.

Researchers believe it's due to the large number of cancers in the area. Two years into a state-wide health investigation the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a chemical commonly that is used to treat wood is also a very common one. It is also a poisonous substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a thick oily substance which is amber or black in color and has a smokey odor and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

It is employed in the United States to treat railroad tieways, as well as other kinds of woods like fence posts, utility poles, as well as pilings from marine construction. It is also used to protect log homes and other structures against insects and rot.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote may be a risky chemical. Short-term exposure can cause irritation to the skin and eyes and chemical burns stomach pain, burning of the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver problems.

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

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

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote due to a railroad yard near their homes. They claim the chemical has affected their homes and soil, and it continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined forces to fight Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test frequently for contamination and take measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

In October 2017 the group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote was a source of contamination in their soil, causing significant health problems from the former rail yard.

They are seeking damages from the railroad to help cover the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They claim to have suffered the effects of environmental racism, discrimination, and other forms of pollution that affected their families as well as them.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that do not degrade quickly in the environment and they can stay in the soil, air, or sediment for a long period of. They can be found in many places that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration as well as hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels aren't well-studied, there is evidence that they could cause serious illnesses , such as cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels have been found to be at a higher risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system disorders and endocrine changes like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause hormonal problems, suppressed immunity and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Union Pacific Cancer are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not volatile or water-soluble, which means they are more easily taken in by the body through the consumption of dairy products, meat fish, and other seafood.

It is important to remember that exposure to dioxins could cause harm to your health, depending on many factors such as how much you eat, drink, and the frequency you breathe. You should also consider your gender and age, as well as your nutrition and family characteristics to determine whether you will be exposed to dioxins.

The type of contaminant is also important. According to the EPA certain toxins are more harmful than others for the health of humans. For example, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative impact on your health than creosote.

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

Railroad Workers And Cancer and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years of cluster of cancers that have been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is right close to their homes. Friday's announcement by the city's health department revealed that they had identified cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the surface near the rail yard. The release said the results weren't 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 be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

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

PCBs can cause contamination of soil as well as water and air in many areas around the globe after they are released into the environment. They are strong binders for organic matter and can be transported easily and accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a major concern for protecting the environment as well as public health. They are regarded as a possible human carcinogen by EPA, and have been proven to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

In addition, some studies have linked 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. Fish is the most common source of exposure, since they contain the highest amount of PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. This can result from leaks or spills that can be caused by electrical or other equipment.

In the same way, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or through the skin. These chemicals can cause a condition called chloracne, which is small, pale yellow skin lesions which can last from weeks to years.

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

The EPA is also studying whether these chemicals might cause birth defects in newborns. Low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and later-life cardiovascular diseases. 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 toxic metal and can be found in many products, such as paints, pipes and food containers. The body can absorb it through two routes: the respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely chemical that can oxidize and react with other chemicals present in your environment. It can build up within the body, which can cause serious health issues such as cancer and other illnesses.

Houston residents who live near to the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote legacy plant are at risk of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated facility.

Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having been a source of contamination for its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Railroad Workers Cancer has tried to remove the mess, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient, residents say.

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

Another major concern is that the creosote is slowly escaping into the air. As it is, it is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors that are harmful to children as well as adults.

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

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


A Department of State Health Services study discovered that leukemia rates were five times higher among 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 neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.

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