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. The most recent tests have shown that contamination is still an issue for residents living nearby.Researchers believe it's due to the large number of cancers in the area. Two years after the launch of an investigation into health issues across the state and a study by researchers, they found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the region around the Union Pacific site.CreosoteCreosote is one of the most common chemicals that is used in the treatment of wood. It can cause cancer in those who are exposed to it.It is a heavy oily substance which is black or amber in appearance and has a smoky scent and a burnt flavor. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preserver.In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other types of wood including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It can also be used to shield log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares that creosote can be an extremely hazardous chemical. In short-term exposure, it can cause irritation of the skin and eyes, chemical burns, stomach pain burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems.Long-term exposure could lead to skin and scrotum cancers. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are susceptible to cancer.According to the EPA the EPA, it is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with various cancers, including esophageal as well lung cancer.Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for a long time due to an old rail yard located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, soil, and continues to spread underground. Railroad Workers and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to prevent the spread.A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They allege that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes and causing significant health problems.They are seeking damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim that they have been harmed by environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other kinds of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.DioxinDioxins are substances that do not degrade quickly in the environment and they can be found in the soil, air, water or sediment for a lengthy duration. They can come from various sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.The health effects of dioxin aren't clear at low levels, however there is evidence that dioxin may cause cancer as well as other serious illnesses. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked to increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease as well as immune-related issues and endocrine problems, like 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 (USEPA), the most common way people are exposed is through water and food. They are not water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be in the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish or other seafood.It is nevertheless important to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that could have negative effects on your health is dependent on numerous factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, the frequency you consume alcohol or food, and the amount of air you breathe. It is also essential to consider your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family traits in addition to other health factors that can influence whether you will be affected by dioxins or not.The type of contaminant is equally important. According to the EPA, some toxins are more harmful than others for human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs are more likely than creosote have a negative effect on your health.For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They also can harm the immune system of a person, and interfere with the development of healthy bones and teeth.For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a rash of cancer deaths that have been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their communities. The announcement released on Friday by Houston's health department said that it discovered cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the surface near the rail yard. The release said the findings were not encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's going to sue Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators isn't adequate in light of the findings.Polychlorinated BiphenylsPCBs, also known as polychlorinated Biphenyls, are noxious chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. These chemicals were banned in 1979, after being found to cause cancer, inhibit the immune system and inhibit learning.PCBs can be harmful to soil and water as well as air in many areas of the world once they are released into the environment. They bind strongly to organic matter, and are often persistent and therefore, are easy to transport and build up in the environment.In the end, PCBs are a major issue for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals.In addition certain studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals while in the womb. Cancer Lawsuit are most commonly consumed through food items. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. But, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This can be caused by leaks or spills that can be caused by electrical or other equipment.People may also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or by skin contact. These chemicals can cause a condition called chloracne, which is a mild, small, yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.However the effects of PCBs on human health aren't completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However there is more research needed to discover how this impacts us. Cancer Lawsuits is also studying whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns. Low birth weight has been linked with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. Two studies have shown that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights or older.LeadLead is a toxic metal that is found in many products like paints pipes and food containers. The body absorbs it through two routes: respiratory and oral.It is a powerful antioxidant that can react with other chemicals in the surrounding. It can accumulate within the body, which can lead to serious health issues like cancer and other ailments.Houston residents who reside near the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote facility are at risk of cancer. The city has requested the federal government's help in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated site.Union Pacific Railroad has a history in which it has affected its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Residents have claimed that the company has been trying to remove the contamination but the plan submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is among the most severe effects of the contamination. A recent study by the health department has revealed that the concentration of creosote in soil samples in the rail yard is greater than the recommended level for drinking water.Another issue is the slow evaporation of creosote from the atmosphere. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements is causing residents to inhale toxic levels of vapors which can cause fatalities for both children and adults.It is also possible that vapors are causing cancers in the residents 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 residents.This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a tragic situation and must be dealt with immediately.A recent study by the Department of State Health Services found that children in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a type leukemia that was five times higher rate than expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhood than elsewhere in Texas.