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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 creosote in the underground air at its rail yard that is contaminated. And now, the latest tests show the contamination could still be affecting people who live near.

Researchers believe that it could be due to the large number of cancers in the region. Two years after the launch of an investigation into health issues across the state, researchers found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical, is employed in the treatment of wood. It is also a poisonous substance that can cause cancer in those exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smokey scent and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been in use for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.

It is used in the United States to treat railroad tieways, as well as other kinds of woods like fence posts and utility poles, and pilings for marine use. It can also be used for protecting log houses and other structures from decay and insect infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote, according to the EPA, is a chemical that could be dangerous. In short-term exposure, it can cause irritation of the skin and eyes and chemical burns stomach pain, burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems.

Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum carcinomas. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.

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

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote because of a former railroad yard that was close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated and is spreading underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test for contamination regularly and take preventative measures to stop the spread.

In October of 2017 the group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote had contaminated their soil and caused major health issues as a result of the former rail yard.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering, as well as damages from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other associated costs. They claim that they have been harmed by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that has impacted them and their families.

Dioxin





Dioxins are substances that aren't able to break down in the environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, water soil, or sediment for a long period. They can be found in many places, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarette smoke 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 can cause serious diseases like cancer. Railroad Workers Cancer Lawsuit who are exposed to higher levels of dioxin are found to be at greater risk of heart disease, organ cancers immune system problems, and endocrine disorders, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive issues, a weak immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues, weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts, known as chloracne.

According to Railroad Cancer Lawyer . Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most prevalent way people are exposed to the toxins is through food and water. They aren't water-soluble or volatile, so they are more likely to be in the body through the consumption of dairy products or fish and other seafood.

It is important to remember, however, that exposure to dioxins could be detrimental to your health, based on numerous aspects, such as the amount you consume, drink, and how often you breathe. It is also essential to consider your gender, age, diet, nutritional status and family traits, as well as other health factors that could affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.

The kind of contaminant used is equally important. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more harmful than others for the health of humans. For instance, polychlorinated benzene (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental impact on your health than creosote.

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

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years of cluster cancer deaths linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is situated next to their homes. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department claimed that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the rail yard. The announcement said the results were "not encouraging." FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been used for more than 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. They were banned in 1979, after being found to cause cancer, suppress the immune system, and interfere with learning.

PCBs can be harmful to soil, water, and air in many areas of the globe once they are released into the environment. They bind tightly to organic matter and are generally persistent and therefore, are simple to transport and accumulate in the environment.

PCBs are a major issue for protecting the environment as well as public health. The EPA considers them a potential human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Additionally certain studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly the case for children exposed PCBs in the womb.

The primary route for exposure to PCBs is through food items. Fish is the main source of exposure, since they are the largest source of PCBs. However, Cancer Lawsuit Settlements can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This can result from leaks or spills which could occur in electrical and other equipment.

Cancer Lawsuit Settlements can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or skin contact. Railroad Workers Cancer Lawsuit can trigger a condition called chloracne, which is a tiny, pale yellow skin lesions that can last from weeks to years.

However, the effects of PCBs on human health aren't fully known. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or biliary tract cancer in humans, but further studies are needed to determine how this affects us.

EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects for newborns, including low birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in life. 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 many items like paints pipes and food containers. It is absorbed into the body through two major routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a powerful antioxidant that can react with other chemicals in the surrounding. This can lead to its accumulation in the body and can lead to serious health problems like cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live near a legacy creosote treatment plant run by Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has asked for assistance from the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's contaminated site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of affected its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The company has been working to get rid of the contamination, but a plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough residents believe.

The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is one of the most dangerous consequences of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has revealed that soil samples from the rail yard contain an increased amount of creosote than what is required for drinking water.

Another concern is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It causes residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors which could be fatal for both children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in people who inhale them. To find out 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 issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It is a sad situation and must be taken care of immediately.

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