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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 up an underground plume contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have shown that contamination is still an issue for residents living nearby.

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

Creosote

Creosote is a chemical commonly used to treat wood. It can also cause cancer in those who are exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance which is black or amber-colored and has a smoky smell and burnt taste. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for over 150 years to preserve wood.

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 used to safeguard log homes and other structures from insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares creosote is a risky chemical. When exposed to creosote, even for brief periods may cause skin and eye irritation and chemical burns stomach discomfort, burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum tumors. This is a major concern for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

It is believed to be a human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked to a variety of cancers such as esophageal cancer 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 say the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil and continues to spread throughout the underground.

The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They are requesting that the company tests regularly for contamination , and take steps to stop it from spreading.

In October of 2017 a group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote had contaminated their soil and caused significant health problems as a result of the former rail yard.

Railroad Cancer Lawyer are seeking compensation from the railroad to cover the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they have been affected by environmental racism discrimination, sexism, and other kinds of pollution that have affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which don't break down in the environment quickly . They can be left in the air, in the soil, or sediment for a lengthy period. They can be found in a variety of sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and incineration of hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health aren't clear at low levels, however there is evidence that they can trigger cancer and other serious illnesses. Patients who are exposed at higher levels have been found to be at risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune system problems and endocrine changes such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal issues, weakened immunity and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most common method people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking or eating. They aren't water-soluble or volatile, so they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of dairy products, fish, and other seafood.

Railroad Cancer Lawyer is important to remember that exposure to dioxins could have a detrimental effect on your health depending on many factors such as how much you drink, eat, and the frequency you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender and age, nutritional status, and family traits to determine whether you will be exposed to dioxins.

The kind of contaminant is crucial. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to have a negative effect on the human body than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs are more likely than creosote to affect your health.

For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys, and liver. They also can harm a person's immune system and interfere with the development of healthy teeth and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about a cluster cancer deaths connected to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is close to their homes. The city's health department said on Friday that it has found cancer-causing chemical compounds in surface samples near the rail yard. The release stated that 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 proposed by Texas environmental regulators won't suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in industrial and household products for more than 60 years. PCBs were banned in 1979 following being found to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and interfere with learning.

PCBs can be harmful to soil or water as well as air in many areas around the globe after they are released into the environment. They bind tightly to organic matter and tend to be persistent and therefore, are easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.

PCBs are a major issue for protecting the environment and public health. Railroad Cancer Lawsuit are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been proven to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly applicable to children who have been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.

The primary route of exposure to PCBs is through food. Fish are the primary source of exposure, since they contain the most PCBs. But, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. This can result from spills or leaks that may be caused by electrical or other equipment.

People are also exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or by skin contact. These chemicals can cause the condition known as Chloracne. This is a tiny pale, yellow-colored lesions that can last for weeks to years.

However the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet completely understood. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or the biliary tract cancers in humans, however more studies are needed to discover how this impacts us.

EPA is also studying whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, such as less weight at birth. A low birth weight has been linked to insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Two studies have shown that children with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights and/or an earlier age.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal and is found in many products, such as pipes, paints and food cans. The body can absorb it through two routes: the respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely chemical that can oxidize and react with other chemicals in your surroundings. This can lead to it accumulating within the body and lead to serious health problems such as cancer and other illnesses.

In Houston the residents who live near a creosote legacy treatment facility owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has requested the assistance of the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's contamination site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having affected its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The company has tried to remove the contamination, but a plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough residents say.





Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is among the most dangerous effects of the contamination. A recent study by the health department has shown that the concentration of creosote in soil samples near the rail yard is much higher than the recommended levels for drinking water.

Another cause for concern is the gradual release of creosote to the atmosphere. As it escapes, it causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors which are toxic for both children and adults.

It is also possible that the fumes are causing cancers to the people who breathe the vapors. A door-to-door health survey is being conducted in the area to understand how the vapors are impacting the lives of the residents.

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

A Department of State Health Services study found that leukemia incidences were five times higher among children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more frequent in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.