Notes

Why Is This Railroad Workers So Beneficial? For COVID-19
Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn't taken the necessary steps to clean the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. The most recent tests have shown that contamination could still be impacting residents living near.

Researchers believe it is due to the large number of cancers found in the region. Two years into a health study conducted by the state and they found higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia as well as adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a chemical commonly used to treat wood. It is also a toxic substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

Union Pacific Cancer Cluster is a heavy oily substance which is black or amber-colored and has a smokey odor and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been in use for over 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 to guard log structures and homes against decay and insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares that creosote could be a hazardous chemical. When exposed to creosote, even for short periods can result in skin and eye irritation, chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of the throat or mouth as well as liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure could lead to skin and scrotum cancers. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are at risk.

It is regarded as a possible human carcinogen according to the EPA. It has been linked to several cancers, including esophageal as well lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote due to a railroad yard right next to their homes. The chemical is said to have caused soil and homes to be contaminated and continues to spread throughout the underground.

The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They would like the company to test regularly for contamination , and take steps to stop the spread of the disease.

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

They are seeking compensation from the railroad to help cover the cost of cleanup as well as other related costs. They claim to have been harmed by racism in the environment and discrimination, as well as other forms of pollution that have affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which do not break down in the environment quickly , and can remain in the air, soil or sediment for a lengthy period. They can be derived from many sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents smoking cigarettes, and the incineration process of hazardous waste.

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

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most popular way that people are exposed dioxin is through drinking water or food. They are not volatile or water-soluble, so they are easily absorbable by the body via the consumption of meat, dairy products as well as fish and other seafood.

It is nevertheless important to remember that the level of exposure that could have detrimental effects on your health will depend on various factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you eat or drink and how much air you breathe. It is also important to take into consideration your age, gender, diet, nutritional status and family traits, as well as other health factors that could affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.

In addition, the type of contaminant is also an important aspect. According to the EPA, some toxins are more harmful than others to the health of humans. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote affect your health.

PCBs can cause damage to the eyes, liver, kidneys, and kidneys. They also can harm the immune system and cause issues with the growth of healthy teeth, bones, and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for a long time about cluster of cancers that have been that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is situated close to their homes. The city's health department said on Friday that it found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The release said 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 proposed plan 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 over 60 years. After being shown to cause cancer and suppress the immune system the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil across the world. They are strong binding agents of organic matter and can be easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a major problem for protecting the environment as well as public health. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.


Certain studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially relevant for children who have been exposed to these chemicals during pregnancy.

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

Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This could be due to leaks or spills that could be caused by electrical or other equipment.

Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing air or by touching the skin. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as Chloracne. This is small pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that last for weeks to years.

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

EPA is also studying whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns, such as lower birth weight. Low birth weight has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular disease. 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 that can be found in a variety of items, such as paints, pipes and food containers. It is absorbed by the body via two main pathways: the respiratory and oral.

It is a strong oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals present in the environment. It is able to accumulate within the body and can lead to serious health issues, such as cancer and other diseases.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's creosote legacy plant are at a high risk of cancer. The city has requested assistance from the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's contaminated site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a history in which it has contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The company has been trying to clean up the contamination, but a plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient residents believe.

Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is among the most dangerous consequences of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has revealed that soil samples from the rail yard contain a higher concentration of creosote than what is required for drinking water.

Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It is causing residents to inhale toxic levels of vapors, which can cause fatalities for children and adults.

It is also possible that gases are causing cancers in the people who breathe the vapors. A door-to-door health assessment is being carried out in the neighborhood to discover more about how the vapors are impacting the lives of the residents.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It is a sad situation and it should 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 areas than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.

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