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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
For decades, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to remove creosote in the underground air at its contaminated rail yard. And now, the latest tests have revealed that the contamination may still be affecting people who live near.
Researchers believe that it could be due to the high number of cancers that are found in the area. Two years after the launch of a state-wide health investigation, researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic childhood and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the vicinity of the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a common chemical, is used in the treatment of wood. It is also a toxic substance that can cause cancer in those exposed to it.
It is a dense oily substance, amber to black in color. It has a smokey scent and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been in use for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.
In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other kinds of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It can also be used for protecting log structures and homes against insects and rot.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote, according to the EPA, is a potentially dangerous chemical. Exposure to it for short periods can cause skin and eye irritation and chemical burns, stomach discomfort and burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems.
Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are susceptible to cancer.
It is believed to be a human carcinogen, as per the EPA. Railroad Workers Cancer has been linked to a variety of cancers which include esophageal, as well lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote thanks to a former railroad yard near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, soil and is spreading underground.
Harris County and Houston have joined forces to fight Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test regularly for contamination and take measures to stop the spread of the disease.
In October 2017 a group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote was a source of contamination in their soil, causing significant health issues as a result of the former rail yard.
They are seeking compensation from the railroad to help cover the cost of cleanup as well as other related costs. They also claim that they are harmed by environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other forms of pollution that has affected them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are substances that do not break down quickly in the environment, and they can remain in the air, water, or sediment for an extended duration. They are found in a variety of locations in natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.
Although the health effects of dioxin at low levels are not identified but there is evidence that they can cause serious illnesses like cancer. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked with an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease as well as immune-related issues and endocrine issues, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual issues and diabetes as well as weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts known as chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most frequent way that people are exposed dioxin is through drinking water or food. They aren't volatile nor water-soluble, which means they are more easily absorbable by the body via the intake of dairy products, meat as well as fish and other seafood.
However, it is important to remember that the amount of exposure that could have adverse effects on your health is contingent upon many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you eat or drink and how much air you breathe. It is also crucial to consider your gender, age and diet, nutritional status and family traits along with other factors in your health that could affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.
In addition, the type of contaminant is an important aspect. The EPA states that certain toxins are more likely to have a negative effect on human health than others. 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 affect the immune system of a person, and interfere with the growth of healthy bones and teeth.
Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about a cluster of cancers that have been that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is located next to their homes. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department revealed that they had identified cancer-causing chemicals in surfaces near the rail yard. The announcement said the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's going to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators isn't sufficient in light of the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for more than 60 years. These chemicals were banned in 1979 following being found to cause cancer, suppress the immune system, and impair learning.
PCBs can contaminate soil and water as well as air in many parts of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are extremely binders to organic matter, and are often persistent that means they are easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.
PCBs are a major problem to protect the environment and public health. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been shown to cause cancer in lab animals.
Additionally, some studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly relevant for children who are exposed to these chemicals while pregnant.
PCBs are most commonly consumed through food. Fish is the primary source of exposure, as they contain the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products, and other agricultural products.
Drinking and showering with PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This could be due to leaks or spills which could be caused by electrical or other equipment.
Additionally, people can be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or through their skin. These chemicals can trigger a condition called chloracne, which is a small, pale yellow skin lesions that can last from a few weeks to a few years.
However, the effects of PCBs on human health aren't completely known. Researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However further research is required to determine how this affects us.
The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborn babies. Low birth weight has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and later-life cardiovascular disease. In two studies, children who were 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 is found in a variety of items like paints, pipes and food cans. It is absorbed by the body through two main routes: respiratory and oral.
It is a powerful antioxidant that can react with other chemicals present in the environment. It is able to accumulate within the body, which could cause serious health problems like cancer and other ailments.
Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's creosote-based plant that is its legacy are at risk of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to direct the railroad to remove its contaminated facility.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contaminating its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, including creosote. Residents have claimed that the company has been trying to get rid of the pollution, but the plan presented to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.
One of the biggest problems that stemmed from the contamination was the groundwater plume under the homes in the region. A recent study by health officials has revealed that soil samples from the rail yard have an increased amount of creosote than that recommended for drinking water.
Another issue is the slow release of creosote from the atmosphere. As it does, 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 the vapors are causing cancers in the people who breathe the vapors. To learn more about the effects of the vapors' effects on the lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being done in the neighborhood.
This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a terribly sad situation that needs to be dealt with immediately.
A Department of State Health Services study found that leukemia incidences were five times higher in children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.
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