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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 clean up the creosote sludge that is buried at its contaminated rail yard. Recent tests have revealed that the contamination could be an issue for residents living nearby.

Researchers suggest it could be related to elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years into a state-wide health investigation, they found higher-than-expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is one of the most common chemicals used in the treatment of wood. It is also a poisonous substance that can cause cancer when exposed to it.

It is a thick, oily substance that is amber or black in color and has a smoky scent and a burnt taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

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

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares that creosote could be a dangerous chemical. The exposure to creosote over short periods can cause irritation to the eyes and skin, chemical burns, stomach discomfort, burning of the mouth or throat as well as liver or kidney problems and even permanent damage.

Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum carcinomas. This is a significant concern for workers who have direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

According to the EPA the EPA, it is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a number of different cancer types, including esophageal and lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for years due to an old rail yard located near their homes. The chemical is said to have contaminated their homes and soil and continues to spread underground.

The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination on a regular basis and implement preventative measures to prevent the spread.

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 compensation for their illness and suffering, as well as compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other associated costs. They claim to have suffered the effects of environmental racism discrimination, sexism, and other forms of pollution that affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which don't break down in environment quickly , and can remain in the air, the soil of the water or in sediment for long periods. They can come from various sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents cigarette smoke and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels are not known, there is evidence that they could cause serious illnesses such as cancer. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked to increased risk for organ cancers, heart disease, immune problems, and endocrine issues such as hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive issues, a weak immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts, known as chloracne.

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

It is important to remember, however, that exposure to dioxins can have a detrimental effect on your health depending on many aspects, such as the amount you drink, eat, and the frequency with which you breathe. You should also take into consideration your gender, age, nutrition, and family characteristics to determine if you will be exposed to dioxins.

Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is an important factor. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to have a damaging effect on human health than others. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental effect on your health than creosote.

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

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about a cluster of cancer deaths that are caused by the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is located next to their homes. The announcement made by the city's health department stated that it found cancer-causing chemicals on samples of the rail yard. The release stated that the results were not a good sign. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposal submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been employed in industrial and consumer products for over 60 years. PCBs were banned in 1979 after being proven to cause cancer, inhibit the immune system, and interfere with learning.

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil throughout the world. They are strong binders of organic matter that can be easily transported and accumulated into the environment.

PCBs are a significant concern for the protection of the environment and public health. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been demonstrated to cause cancer in lab animals.

In addition certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially the case for children exposed these chemicals while pregnant.

PCBs are most commonly ingested through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs, fish is the main source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This can result from spills or leaks that may be caused by electrical or other equipment.

People can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or through skin contact. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is a tiny, pale skin lesions that can be present for a period of weeks or years.

The effects of PCBs upon the health of humans aren't completely comprehended. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However further research is required to better understand how this affects us.

EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, such as lower birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked to insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases 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 toxic metal and is present in a variety of products, including paints, pipes and food cans. The body absorbs it through two main routes: the respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely oxidizing chemical and can react with other chemicals present in your environment. This can lead to it accumulating within the body. This can cause serious health issues like cancer and other diseases.

Houston residents who live near to the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote-based plant that is its legacy are at risk of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's assistance in the cleanup of the railroad's contamination 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, like creosote. The company has tried to eliminate the mess, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient residents believe.

The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is one of the most severe effects of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has shown that soil samples taken from the rail yard have higher levels of creosote than what is required for drinking water.

Another concern is the slow evaporation of creosote from the atmosphere. It causes residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors which are harmful to children as well as adults.

It is also possible that the particles are causing cancers among the residents who are breathing them in. A door-to-door health assessment is being conducted in the area to discover more about how the vapors are impacting the residents' lives.





This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It's a sad state of affairs and must be addressed 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 areas than was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.