10 Healthy Railroad Workers Habits

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 clean up creosote in the underground air at its contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have shown that contamination could still be an issue for residents living nearby.

Railroad Workers believe it's due to the high number of cancers that are found in the area. Two years after the launch of a state-wide health investigation, researchers found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical that is 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 dense oily substance that ranges from amber to black in color. It has a smokey scent and a burnt taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.

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

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares creosote is a risky chemical. The exposure to creosote over short periods can cause irritation to the eyes and skin, chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of throat or mouth and liver or kidney issues, and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a serious issue for those who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

It is thought to be a probable human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked with a variety kinds of cancers including esophageal and 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 caused soil and homes to be contaminated 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 for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to stop it from spreading.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote contaminated their soil and caused major health problems as a result of the former rail yard.

They are seeking damages from the railroad to pay the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They also claim that they are harmed by environmental racism and discrimination and other forms of pollution that have impacted them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that don't break down quickly in the environment and they can remain in the air, water, or sediment for an extended time. They can be found in a variety places, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarettes, and incineration or hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin are not known at low levels, but there is evidence that dioxin can trigger cancer and other serious illnesses. Patients who are exposed at higher levels have been found to have an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system problems and endocrine imbalances like hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to problems with hormones, immune suppression womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.





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

However, it is crucial to be aware that the amount of exposure that could have a harmful effect on your health will depend on various factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you eat or drink and how often you breathe. It is also essential to consider your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family traits, as well as other health factors that can affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant is also crucial. The EPA declares that certain toxins are more likely to have a negative impact on health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs are more likely than creosote affect your health.

For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They can also affect 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 about a cluster of 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 stated that it found cancer-causing chemicals on samples of the surface near the rail yard. The release stated that 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 that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators won't be adequate in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenyls, are harmful chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in industrial and consumer products. After being proven to cause cancer and weaken the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.

Once released into the natural environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water in a variety of areas around the world. They are powerful binders of organic matter that can be transported easily and accumulated in the environment.

As a result, PCBs are a major threat for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. The EPA considers them a probable carcinogen for humans and has proven that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Certain studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children exposed to these chemicals during the womb.

The primary route for exposure to PCBs is through food. Fish are the primary source of exposure because they are the largest source of PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products and other agricultural products.

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

Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through the skin. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as Chloracne. This is a mild pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last from months or even years.

The effects of PCBs upon the health of humans aren't fully recognized. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or biliary tract cancers in humans, however more studies are needed to determine what this means for us.

The EPA is also studying whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborn babies. Low birth weight is associated with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease 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 a later age.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal and is present in a wide range of products, including paints, pipes, and food cans. The body absorbs it through two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is an extremely antioxidant that can react with other chemicals found in the environment. This can lead to it accumulating within the body. This can cause serious health issues like cancer, among other illnesses.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's creosote legacy plant have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to instruct the railroad to remove its contaminated facility.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of polluting its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic to humans, like creosote. The company has been working to clean up the contamination, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough residents say.

One of the most important problems that arose due to the contamination is the groundwater plume under the homes in the area. A recent study by health officials has shown that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain an increased amount of creosote than that recommended for drinking water.

Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It is causing residents to inhale toxic levels of vapors which could cause death for both children and adults.

It is also possible that fumes are causing cancers to the people who breathe the vapors. A door-to-door health survey is being carried out in the neighborhood to find out more about how the vapors affect the lives of the residents.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a tragic situation and needs to be taken care of immediately.

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