Notes

How To Determine If You're Prepared For Railroad Workers
Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn't done enough to clean the underground plume that was contaminated with rail yard. The most recent tests have shown that the contamination could be in the vicinity of residents.

Researchers suggest it could be linked to the increased cancer rates in the region. Two years into a state-wide health investigation the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a chemical commonly used to treat wood is also a very common one. It is also a toxic substance and can cause cancers in those exposed to it.

It is a thick oily substance that's black or amber in color and has a smokey odor and a burnt taste. It is a coal tar distillation product and has been in use for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.

It is widely used in the United States to treat railroad tiesand other types of woods, such as fence posts, utility poles, as well as pilings for marine use. It can also be used to safeguard log homes and other structures from insect infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is an extremely dangerous chemical. Short-term exposure can cause eye and skin irritation and chemical burns, stomach pain, burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney issues.

Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum tumors. 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 likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with many types of cancer such as esophageal cancer as well lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for a long time due to an old rail yard located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, soil and continues to spread underground.

The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test frequently for contamination and take steps to prevent the spread of the disease.

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

They are seeking compensation for their illnesses and suffering and also damages from railroads for the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They also claim that they are affected by environmental racism and discrimination and other kinds of pollution that have adversely affected their families and friends.


Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that do not break down quickly in the environment and can remain in the soil, air, water or sediment for a lengthy time. They are found in a variety places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke, and incineration or hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health aren't clear at low levels, however there is evidence to suggest that they can trigger cancer and other serious diseases. People exposed to higher levels are believed to be at greater risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune system problems, and endocrine changes like hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to hormonal problems, suppressed immunity as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most frequent way that people are exposed is through water and food. They aren't volatile and water-soluble, so they are easily to be absorbed by the body through the intake of meat, dairy products as well as fish and other seafood.

It is important to remember that exposure can have a detrimental effect on your health, depending on many factors like how much you drink, eat, and how often you breathe. It is also crucial to consider your gender, age, diet, nutritional status and family traits, as well as other health factors that can determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.

The kind of contaminant is 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 detrimental impact on your health than creosote.

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

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for a long time about cluster of cancers that have been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is next to their homes. The city's health department said on Friday that it found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The release said the results weren't encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's going to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal submitted to Texas environmental regulators will not be adequate given the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for over 60 years. These substances were banned in 1979 after being proven to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and hinder learning.

PCBs can contaminate soil or water as well as air in many regions of the globe once they are released into the environment. They bind tightly to organic matter and are often persistent which means they are easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.

This is why PCBs are a major concern for the protection of public health and the environment. The EPA considers them a probable human carcinogen and has proved that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Furthermore, some studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly the case for children exposed these chemicals while pregnant.

PCBs are mainly consumed through food items. Fish is the primary source of exposure because they contain the highest amount of PCBs. 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 in electrical and other equipment.

People are also exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or skin contact. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as chloracne which is a small, pale, yellow skin lesions that can be present for a period of weeks or years.

However the effects of PCBs on the human body are not fully comprehended. Researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However further research is required to discover how this affects us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals might cause birth defects in newborn babies. A 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 toxic metal that is present in a variety of products, such as paints, pipes and food cans. The body can absorb it through two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is an extremely antioxidant and can react with other chemicals present in the environment. It can accumulate in the body, which can cause serious health issues like cancer and other ailments.

In Houston the residents who live near a legacy creosote treatment facility run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's assistance in cleaning up the railroad's contaminated facility.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contamination of its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic to humans, like creosote. The company has tried to get rid of the mess, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough residents believe.

The plume of groundwater that flows below the homes in the affected area is among the most grave effects of the contamination. A recent study by the health department shows that the concentration of creosote in soil samples near the rail yard is more than the recommended levels for drinking water.

Another concern is the slow release of creosote from the atmosphere. Railroad Workers And Cancer causes residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors which can cause fatalities for both children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in those who breathe them. To find out more about the impact of the vapors on lives of residents, a door-to-door survey is being conducted in the neighborhood.

This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It's a sad state of affairs and must be dealt with immediately.

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

Homepage: https://www.safaa.icu/why-you-should-be-working-with-this-union-pacific-cancer-cluster/