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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 creosote in the underground air at its contaminated rail yard. And now, the latest tests suggest that the contamination could still be affecting those who live nearby.

Researchers believe it could be due to the high number of cancers found in the region. Two years into a state-wide health investigation, they found higher-than-expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia as well as adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a common chemical that is used in the treatment of wood. It can cause cancer in people who are exposed to it.

It is a dense, oily substance that is black or amber-colored and has a smoky smell and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other types of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It is also used to shield log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote could be a hazardous chemical. In the event of exposure to creosote for a short periods can cause irritation to the eyes and skin and chemical burns stomach pains, burning in the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems and even permanent damage.

Railroad Workers Cancer Lawsuit -term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Railroad Cancer Lawyer is a serious concern for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

According to the EPA it is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a range of cancers of various types including esophageal and 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.

Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination regularly and implement preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.

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

They are seeking damages from the railroad to help cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim to have suffered the effects of environmental racism, discrimination, and other forms of pollution that affected their families and themselves.





Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that do not break down quickly in the environment, and can remain in the air, water, or sediment for a lengthy time. They are found in a variety of locations, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin are unclear at low levels, but there is evidence that dioxin may cause cancer as well as other serious diseases. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked with an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune issues, and endocrine disorders, 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 popular way people are exposed to the toxins is through water and food. They aren't water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish and other seafood.

It is vital to remember, however, that exposure to chemicals can be detrimental to your health depending on many factors , including how much you drink, eat and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also crucial to consider your age, gender and diet, nutritional status and family characteristics along with other health factors that can affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.

The kind of contaminant is crucial. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to have a negative effect on human health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs, are more likely than creosote negatively impact your health.

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

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster of cancers that have been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is right next to their homes. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department revealed that they found cancer-causing chemicals on surfaces near the rail yard. The announcement said 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 proposal submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for over 60 years. After being shown to cause Railroad Cancer Lawsuit and inhibit the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil throughout the world. They are powerful binders of organic matter, and are easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a significant concern for protecting the environment and public health. The EPA considers them to be a possible carcinogen for humans and has proven that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Additionally, some studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly the case for children who've been exposed to these chemicals during the pregnancy.

PCBs are most often ingested through food items. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. But, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. This could be the result of leaks or spills from electrical or other equipment.

Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or by touching the skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is a tiny, pale skin lesions that can last from weeks to years.

However, the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet completely comprehended. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However it is necessary to conduct more research to discover how this impacts us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease later in life. 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 that can be found in many products, such as paints, pipes, and food cans. The body absorbs it via two routes: the respiratory and oral.

It is a potent chemical that can oxidize and react with other chemicals in your surroundings. It is able to accumulate within the body and can cause serious health issues like cancer and other diseases.

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

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contamination of its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, including creosote. Residents claim that the railroad has been working to eliminate the contamination, but the proposal submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is one of the most serious consequences of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has found that soil samples from the rail yard have a higher concentration of creosote than what is required for drinking water.

Another cause for concern is the gradual release of creosote from the atmosphere. As it does, it is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors, which are harmful for children as well as adults.

It is also possible that the gases are causing cancers in the residents who breathe the vapors. To find out more about the impact of the vapors in the lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being conducted in the neighborhood.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a tragic situation that must be addressed immediately.

Railroad Cancer of State Health Services study found that leukemia incidences were five times higher for children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than what was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.