Five Railroad Workers Lessons Learned From Professionals

Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

For decades, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to remove an underground plume of creosote at its contaminated rail yard. And now, the latest tests show that the contamination could still be affecting those who live nearby.

Researchers believe it's due to the large number of cancers in the region. Two years into a state-wide health investigation the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical used to treat wood is also a typical one. It is also a cause of cancer in those who are exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. Railroad Cancer Lawyer has a smokey smell and a bitter taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.

It is employed in the United States to treat railroad tieways, as well as other kinds of woods, such as fence posts and utility poles, as well as marine pilings. Railroad Workers Cancer Lawsuit can also be used to shield log homes and other structures from insect infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is a chemical that could be dangerous. A short-term exposure could cause irritation to the skin and eyes as well as chemical burns stomach discomfort and burning of the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver problems.

Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum tumors. This is a serious issue for workers who have direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

According to the EPA It is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to various cancers that include esophageal aswell lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades, thanks to a former rail yard near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil 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 regularly for contamination and to take measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

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

They are seeking damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup as well as other related costs. They claim that they have been suffering from environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that has adversely affected their families and friends.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that do not degrade quickly in the environment, and they can stay in the air, water, soil or sediment for a long time. They can be found in a variety of places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration as well as hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't known however, there is evidence to suggest that they could cause serious diseases like cancer. People who are exposed to higher levels are believed to be at greater risk of heart disease, organ cancers as well as immune system issues and endocrine disorders including hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues 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 to the toxins is through food and water. They aren't volatile nor water-soluble, therefore they are more 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, however, that exposure to chemicals can have a detrimental effect on your health based on a variety of factors , including how much you drink, eat, and the frequency you breathe. It is also essential to take into consideration your gender, age as well as your diet, nutritional status and family traits in addition to other health factors that could determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.

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

PCBs can cause damage to the eyes and kidneys, liver, and kidneys. They also can harm 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 cancer deaths connected to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is close to their homes. Friday's announcement by the city's health department stated that it discovered cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the rail yard. The announcement said that the findings were not encouraging. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for over 60 years. These chemicals were banned in 1979 following being discovered to cause cancer, inhibit the immune system and inhibit learning.

PCBs can be harmful to soil, water, and air in a variety of regions around the globe after they are released into the environment. Railroad Cancer are strong binding agents of organic matter and can be transported easily and accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a major problem for protecting the environment and public health. They are considered a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been found to cause cancer in lab animals.

Certain studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly applicable to children who have been exposed to these chemicals during the pregnancy.

The main route of exposure to PCBs is through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. But, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that is infected with PCBs. This could be the result of leaks or spills in electrical and other equipment.





Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing air or through the skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as Chloracne. It is a small pale, yellow-colored lesions that may last for weeks or even years.

The effects of PCBs upon human health are not completely comprehended. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or biliary tract cancer in humans, but more research is needed to find out the extent to which this impacts us.

The EPA is also examining whether these chemicals might cause birth defects in newborn babies. Low birth weight has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and 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 found in many products, such as pipes, paints, and food cans. The body absorbs it through two routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a powerful chemical that is oxidizing and can react with other chemicals in your surroundings. It can build up within the body and could lead to serious health problems like cancer and other ailments.

Houston residents who live near to the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote facility have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated site.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having its rail yard contaminated in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic for humans, such as creosote. Residents say that the company has been trying to eliminate the contamination, but the plan that was submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is one of the most severe consequences of the contamination. A recent study conducted 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 major concern is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. As it is, it causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that can be harmful to children as well as adults.

It is also possible that the particles are causing cancers among those who breathe the vapors. A door-to-door health survey is currently being conducted in the area to find out more about how the vapors impact the lives of residents.

This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a tragic situation that must be addressed 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 areas than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in these areas than elsewhere in Texas.