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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 remove creosote-laden creosote plume that was at its contaminated rail yard. Recent tests have revealed that the contamination could be in the vicinity of residents.

Researchers believe it could be related to the elevated cancer rates in the region. Two years after the launch of an all-state health investigation, researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic childhood and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the region around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a common chemical employed in the treatment of wood. Cancer Lawsuits is also a cause of cancer in those who are exposed to it.

It is a thick oily substance which is black or amber in appearance and has a smoky smell and a burnt flavor. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years to preserve wood.

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 safeguard log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote is an extremely dangerous chemical. The exposure to creosote over short periods can result in skin and eye irritation chemical burns stomach pains, burning in the throat or mouth, kidney or liver problems and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a serious issue for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

It is considered a probable human carcinogen according to the EPA. It has been linked with a variety kinds of cancers including esophageal and lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades due to an old rail yard located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their soil, homes, 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 for contamination regularly and take preventative measures to stop the spread.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating soil beneath their homes and is causing significant health issues.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering as well as damages from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other associated costs. They claim that they have been affected by environmental racism, discrimination, and other types of pollution that has affected them and their families.

Dioxin

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

The effects of dioxin on health are not clear at low levels, but there is evidence that they can cause cancer and other serious illnesses. People exposed to higher levels have been found to be at a higher risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system problems and endocrine disorders like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause problems with hormones, immune suppression as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most common 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.

But it is important to be aware that the amount of exposure that could have adverse effects on your health will depend on many factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, how often you eat or drink and how much you breathe. You should also consider your gender and age, nutritional status, and family characteristics to determine whether you will be exposed to dioxins.

The kind of contaminant used is also crucial. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to have a damaging 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 instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They can also harm the immune system and cause issues with the development of healthy teeth, bones, and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for a long time about cluster of cancer deaths that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is close to their homes. The city's health department announced Friday that it found cancer-causing chemical compounds in surface samples near the rail yard. The release noted that the findings were not encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan presented to Texas environmental regulators isn't sufficient in light of the findings.

Cancer Lawsuit (PCBs)


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

PCBs can be harmful to soil and water as well as air in many regions around the globe after they are released into the environment. They bind tightly to organic matter, and tend to remain in the environment for a long time that means they are easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.

As a result, PCBs are a major issue for the protection of public health and the environment. The EPA considers them to be a possible human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Additionally certain studies have found 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.

The primary route of exposure to PCBs is through food items. Fish is the primary source of exposure because they are the source of the most PCBs. But, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. Cancer Lawsuits could be the result of leaks or spills from electrical equipment and other.

People are also exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or skin contact. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is small, pale, yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.

However, the effects of PCBs on human health aren't fully comprehended. Some researchers have suggested they may cause liver and the biliary tract cancers among humans, however more studies are needed to determine what this means for us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns. A low birth weight is associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. Two studies revealed that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights and/or a later age.

Lead

Lead is a highly toxic metal that is present in a variety of products like paints, pipes, and food cans. The body can absorb it through two major routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a strong antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals in the environment. It can accumulate within the body and could cause serious health issues such as cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live near a legacy creosote treatment plant run by Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has asked the federal government to order the railroad to cleanse its contaminated facility.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contamination of its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals for humans, such as creosote. The railroad has been trying to get rid of the contamination, but a plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough, residents say.

One of the most important problems that arose from the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the area. A recent study by health officials has found that soil samples taken from the rail yard have a higher concentration of creosote than what is required for drinking water.

Another issue is the slow evaporation of creosote from the atmosphere. As it is, it is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors which are toxic for both children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors could cause cancer for those who breathe them. A door-to door health survey is being conducted in the neighborhood to understand how the vapors affect the lives of the residents.

This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It is a sad situation and needs to be dealt with immediately.

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

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