What Experts Say You Should Know

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 in the underground air at its contaminated rail yard. And now, the most recent tests have revealed that the contamination may still be affecting people who live near.

Researchers believe it is due to the high number of cancers in the area. Two years into a health study conducted by the state they discovered higher than expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is one of the most common chemicals employed in the treatment of wood. It is also a dangerous substance and can cause cancers in those exposed to it.





It is a thick oily substance, from amber to black in color. It has a smokey scent and a bitter taste. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preserver.

It is utilized in the United States to treat railroad ties, as well as other types of woods, such as fence posts and utility poles, as well as marine pilings. It is also employed to protect log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that creosote may be an extremely hazardous chemical. When exposed to creosote, even for brief periods may cause skin and eye irritation chemical burns stomach pains, burning of the throat or mouth, kidney or liver problems and even permanent damage.

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

According to the EPA, it is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with various cancers, including esophageal as well lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote due to a railroad yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated and continues to spread underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis 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 contaminated their soil and caused significant health issues as a result of the former rail yard.

They are seeking damages from the railroad to cover the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They also claim that they are victimized by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other kinds of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that do not break down in the environment quickly , and can remain in the air, in the soil, or sediment for a lengthy period. They can come from various sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents smoking cigarettes, and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't known however, there is evidence to suggest that they can trigger serious illnesses such as cancer. Higher levels of dioxin are linked to a higher risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune problems, and endocrine disorders, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also cause problems with hormones, immune suppression womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most common way that people are exposed dioxin is through drinking or eating. They aren't volatile nor water-soluble, which means they are more easily absorbable by the body via the consumption of meat, dairy products as well as fish and other seafood.

However, it is important to remember that the level of exposure that has negative effects on your health is dependent on many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you eat or drink and how much air you breathe. It is also essential to take into consideration your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics, as well as other health factors that may affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant crucial. According to the EPA certain toxins are more harmful than others to human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs are more likely than creosote negatively impact your health.

PCBs can cause damage to eyes and liver, kidneys and kidneys. They can also damage the immune system and cause problems in the development of healthy teeth, bones and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster of cancer deaths that are connected to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is located next to their homes. The announcement released on Friday by Houston's health department stated that it discovered cancer-causing chemicals in surfaces near the rail yard. The announcement said the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal submitted to Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenyls, are harmful chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in consumer and industrial products. After being proven to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

PCBs can cause contamination of soil, water, and air in a variety of regions of the world once they are released into the environment. They are strong binders of organic matter and can be transported easily and accumulated in the environment.

As a result, PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. They are considered a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been proven to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Certain studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly relevant for children who are exposed to these chemicals during the womb.

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

Another method of being exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is affected by PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills that could occur in electrical and other equipment.

Railroad Workers Cancer may also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or skin contact. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as Chloracne. This is small pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last from months or even years.

However the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet completely comprehended. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or biliary tract cancer in humans, but more studies are needed to discover what this means for us.

EPA has also been examining whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns, including less weight at birth. A low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. Two studies found that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or a later age.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal that is found in many products, such as paints, pipes and food cans. The body absorbs it via two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a powerful antioxidant that can react with other chemicals in the surrounding. It is able to accumulate in the body, and could cause serious health issues, such as cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live close to a creosote-based treatment plant owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked the federal government to instruct the railroad to clean up its contaminated site.

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

One of the biggest issues that resulted due to the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the region. A recent study by health officials has revealed that soil samples taken from the rail yard have an increased amount of creosote than what is required for drinking water.

Another issue is the slow release of creosote to the atmosphere. As it is, it causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors which are dangerous for children and adults.

It is also possible that vapors are causing cancers in the residents who are breathing them in. To find out more about the effect of the vapors on lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being done in the neighborhood.

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

A recent study by the Department of State Health Services found that children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a form leukemia at a five-fold higher rate than expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.