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. And now, the latest tests suggest that the contamination could still be affecting those who live nearby.Researchers suggest it could be due to higher cancer rates in the area. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements into a state-wide health investigation the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.CreosoteCreosote is a chemical commonly employed in the treatment of wood. It is also a toxic substance and can cause cancers in those exposed to it.It is a thick oily substance which is black or amber in appearance and has a smoky scent and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other kinds of wood including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It is also employed to protect log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote, according to the EPA, is an extremely dangerous chemical. Exposure to it for short periods can cause skin and eye irritation chemical burns, stomach discomfort burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems.Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are at risk.It is considered a probable human carcinogen as per the EPA. It has been linked with a variety of different types of cancer, including esophageal and lung cancer.Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote over the years due to an old rail yard close to their homes. They claim the chemical has contaminated their homes and soil and continues to spread underground.The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They would like the company to test frequently for contamination and take steps to prevent it from spreading.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 the soil under their homes and causing serious health issues.They are seeking damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They also claim that they are affected by environmental racism and discrimination in addition to other forms of pollution that has affected them and their families.DioxinDioxins are chemicals that do not break down quickly in the environment, and can remain in the air, water, soil or in sediment for a long duration. They can be found in a variety of sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents smoking cigarettes, and the incineration process of hazardous waste.The effects of dioxin on health are not clear at low levels, however there is evidence to suggest that they may cause cancer as well as other serious diseases. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked to an increased risk for heart disease, organ cancers as well as immune-related issues and endocrine disorders, including hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a weakened immune system, diabetes and menstrual issues as well as weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts known as chloracne.According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most common way people are exposed is through food and water. They are not volatile or water-soluble, so they are more likely to be in the body through the consumption of dairy products, fish and other seafood.It is important to remember, however, that exposure to dioxins can affect your health depending on many factors , including how much you drink, eat and the frequency you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your age, gender and diet, nutritional status and family characteristics along with other health factors that can affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.The kind of contaminant is also important. According to the EPA certain toxins are more dangerous than others for human health. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative impact on your health than creosote.PCBs can cause damage to eyes, liver, kidneys, and kidneys. They can also damage the immune system of a person and affect the development of healthy teeth and bones.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 close to their homes. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department claimed that it discovered cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the surface near 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 be sufficient.Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)PCBs, also known as polychlorinated Biphenyls, are noxious chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in industrial and consumer products. After being shown to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.PCBs can infect soil or water as well as air in many regions of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are strong binding agents of organic matter, and are transported easily and accumulated in the environment.PCBs are a major issue for protecting the environment and public health. The EPA considers them to be a possible human carcinogen , and has demonstrated that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.In addition, some studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially relevant for children who have been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.The main route of exposure to PCBs is through food items. 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.Another way to be exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. Cancer Lawsuit could be the result of leaks or spills in electrical and other equipment.People are also exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or coming into contact with skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is a small, pale skin lesions that can be present for a period of weeks or years.The effects of PCBs on human health are not fully understood. Researchers have suggested that they may cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However further research is required to understand how this affects us.The EPA is also examining whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked to insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in the course of. Two studies have shown that children with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights , and/or later in life.LeadLead is a poisonous metal and is found in a wide range of products, including pipes, paints and food containers. It is absorbed into the body via two main pathways: the respiratory and oral.It is a powerful chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your environment. Cancer Lawsuits can cause it to accumulate in the body , and could lead to serious health problems such as cancer and other diseases.Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's creosote legacy plant are at risk of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's assistance in cleaning up the railroad's contamination site.The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contamination of its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, including creosote. The company has been trying to eliminate the contamination, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough, residents say.One of the biggest problems that resulted from the contamination was the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the area. A recent study conducted by the health department shows that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples around the rail yard is much higher than the recommended level for drinking water.Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote vapor is slowly escaping into the air. It causes residents to breathe harmful levels of vapors which could be fatal for children and adults.It is also possible that gases are causing cancers in the people who breathe the vapors in. To learn more about the impact of the vapors 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. It is a sad situation and needs to be addressed immediately.A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services discovered that children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a form of leukemia that was five times higher rate than the average. The study also found that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.