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10 Railroad Workers That Are Unexpected
Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

For decades, 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 the contamination could be affecting residents living nearby.

Researchers say it may be related to the elevated cancer rates in the region. Two years after launching an investigation into health issues across the state the researchers discovered that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic cancer in children and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the region around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote which is a common chemical used in the treatment of wood is also a typical one. It is also a dangerous 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 smoky scent and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been used for more than 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.

It is used in the United States to treat railroad ties, and other types woods, such as fence posts and utility poles, and pilings for marine structures. It is also used to guard log houses and other structures from the effects of rot and insect invasion.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) creosote can be a potentially dangerous chemical. Short-term exposure can cause irritation to the skin and eyes, chemical burns stomach pain and burning in the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver issues.

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

According to the EPA it is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a range kinds of cancers, including esophageal and lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for a long time, thanks to a former rail yard near their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated, and continues to spread underground.

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

In October of 2017 a group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote has contaminated their soil and caused significant health issues from the former rail yard.

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

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that do not break down in the environment quickly , and can remain in the air, in the soil or in sediment for a lengthy period. They can be found in various sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin are unclear at low levels, but there is evidence that they can trigger cancer and other serious diseases. Patients who are exposed at higher levels of dioxin have been found to have an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers as well as immune system issues and endocrine issues such as hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to hormonal issues, weakened immunity as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most common method people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be absorbed into the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish or other seafood.

It is vital to remember, however, that exposure to dioxins could affect your health based on a variety of aspects, such as the amount you drink, eat and the frequency you breathe. It is also crucial to consider your gender, age, diet, nutritional status and family characteristics in addition to other health factors that could determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.

The kind of contaminant is also important. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more dangerous than others for human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs are more likely than creosote cause harm to your health.

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

For years, residents in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a cluster of cancer deaths that has been related to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their communities. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department claimed that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the surface near the rail yard. The release stated that the results were not a good sign. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposal submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. PCBs were banned in 1979, after they were found to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and interfere with learning.

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil across the world. They are strong binders for organic matter and can be transported easily and accumulated in the environment.

As a result, PCBs are a major threat for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. The EPA considers them a probable human carcinogen and has proved that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Some studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.

PCBs are most often ingested through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.


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

People may also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or coming into contact with skin. These chemicals can trigger the condition 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 completely known. Researchers have suggested that they may cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However further research is required to better understand how this affects us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns. The low birth weight of newborns is associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. 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 can be found in many products like paints, pipes, and food cans. It can be absorbed by the body through two major routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a powerful chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other substances in your environment. This can lead to its accumulation within the body and lead to serious health problems like cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live near a creosote treatment facility owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has asked for the assistance of the federal government in the cleanup of the railroad's contamination site.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of polluting its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic to humans, like creosote. Residents claim that the railroad has been working to get rid of the pollution, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

Railroad Cancer Settlements of the major problems that stemmed from the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the region. A recent study conducted by health officials has shown that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain more creosote than what is required for drinking water.

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

It is also possible that the gases are causing cancers in the residents who are breathing the vapors in. To learn more about the effects of the vapors' effects on the lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being conducted in the neighborhood.

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

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

Read More: https://sites.google.com/view/railroadcancersettlements