What Experts In The Field Want You To Learn

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 an underground plume of creosote at its contaminated rail yard. Recent tests have revealed that the contamination may be in the vicinity of residents.

Researchers believe that it could be due to the high rate of cancers found in the region. Two years into a health inspection by the state and they found higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers within the communities around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical, is used in the treatment of wood. It is also a toxic substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a thick oily substance that ranges from amber to black in color. It has a smokey smell and a burnt taste. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preserver.

It is widely used in the United States to treat railroad tiesand other types of woods, including fence posts and utility poles, and pilings for marine structures. It can also be used to guard log homes and other structures against rot and insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares creosote is an extremely hazardous chemical. In the event of exposure to creosote for a brief periods may cause irritation to the eyes and skin and chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of the throat or mouth as well as liver or kidney problems and even permanent damage.

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

It is believed to be a human carcinogen, according to the EPA. It has been linked to many types of cancer such as esophageal cancer as well as lung cancer.





Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for years, thanks to the former rail yard that was located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, soil and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to prevent the spread.

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

They are seeking compensation for their illness and suffering as well as damages from railroads for the cost of cleaning and other related costs. They claim that they have been affected by environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other forms of pollution that has affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that aren't able to break down in the environment quickly and can remain in the air, soil or sediment for a lengthy period. They can be found in a variety of locations, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration and hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health are unclear at low levels, however there is evidence that they may cause cancer as well as other serious diseases. The people who are exposed to higher levels are believed to be at risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune system disorders and endocrine changes, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger problems with hormones, immune suppression and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most popular way that people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not volatile or water-soluble so they are more easily to be absorbed by the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.

But it is important to be aware that the amount of exposure that could have detrimental effects on your health depends on several factors, such as the amount of food you consume or drink, how often you drink or eat, and how much air you breathe. It is also essential to take into consideration your gender, age, diet, nutritional status and family traits in addition to other health factors that can determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant also crucial. The EPA declares that certain toxins are more likely to have a negative impact on human health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to cause harm to your health.

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

For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a string of cancer deaths that has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their homes. The city's health department reported on Friday that it found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The release said that the findings were "not encouraging." FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposed plan 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 over 60 years. These chemicals were banned in 1979 following being discovered to cause cancer, suppress the immune system and inhibit learning.

PCBs can infect soil, water, and air in many areas of the world once they are released into the environment. They bind strongly to organic matter, and are generally persistent and therefore, are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

Therefore, PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements are regarded as a possible human carcinogen by EPA, and have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals while during pregnancy.

Railroad Workers are mainly consumed through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.

Showering and drinking water is another way to be exposed. This can result from leaks or spills that could occur in electrical and other equipment.

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

However the effects of PCBs on human health aren't fully understood. Researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However there is more research needed to determine how this affects us.

EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, such as low birth weight. A low birth weight has been linked with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. 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 highly toxic metal that is present in a variety of products like paints pipes, and food cans. The body can absorb it through two main routes: the respiratory and oral.

It is a strong antioxidant and can react with other chemicals present in the environment. It can build up within the body and could lead to serious health issues such as cancer and other illnesses.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote facility have a high incidence of cancer. The city has asked the federal government for an order to the railroad to clean its contaminated site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of caused harm to its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Residents claim that the railroad has been trying to clean up contamination but the plan that was submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is one of the most severe consequences of the contamination. A recent study by the health department has revealed that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples in the rail yard is greater than the level recommended for drinking water.

Another reason to be concerned is that creosote is slowly disappearing into the air. It causes residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which are toxic for both children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in those who breathe them. A door-to-door health survey is being conducted in the neighborhood to find out more about how the vapors impact the residents' lives.

This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It is a sad situation and it should be dealt with immediately.

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