The Guide To Railroad Workers In 2023

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 creosote in the underground air at its rail yard that is contaminated. And now, the most recent tests have revealed that the contamination may continue to affect those who live nearby.

Researchers suggest it could be related to elevated cancer rates in the region. Two years after launching an investigation across the state on health Researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic cancer in children as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the vicinity of the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a chemical commonly that is used to treat wood is also a very common one. It is also a dangerous substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance that ranges from amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal 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 kinds of wood including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It can also be used to protect log homes and other structures from insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says creosote is an extremely hazardous chemical. In short-term exposure, it can cause irritation to the skin and eyes as well as chemical burns stomach discomfort burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems.

Long-term exposure can lead to skin and scrotum tumors. This is a serious concern for those who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.

It is regarded as a possible human carcinogen as per the EPA. It has been linked to a variety of cancers such as esophageal cancer as well lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for years, thanks to an old rail yard close to their homes. They claim the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil, and it continues to spread underground.

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

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

They are seeking damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup as well as other related costs. They also claim to be suffering from environmental racism and discrimination as well as other kinds of pollution that have adversely affected their families and friends.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that don't break down quickly in the environment and can remain in the air, water, or sediment for a lengthy duration. They can be derived from a variety of sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents cigarette smoke and incineration of hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin are not known at low levels, however there is evidence that suggests they can trigger cancer and other serious illnesses. Patients who are exposed at higher levels of dioxin are found to be at risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system problems and endocrine changes, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also cause problems with hormones, immune suppression womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most prevalent way people are exposed to the toxins is through water and food. They are not 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.

But it is important to remember that the level of exposure that has negative effects on your health depends on many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you drink or eat, and the amount of air you breathe. It is also essential to take into consideration your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics along with other health factors that could affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.

In addition, the form of contaminant can be an important factor. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to have a damaging impact on health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, are more likely than creosote affect your health.

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

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster of cancer deaths that are that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is located next to their homes. The city's health department announced Friday that it has found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The release said 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 proposed plan by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for over 60 years. After they were proven to cause cancer and weaken the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

PCBs can cause contamination of soil as well as water and air in a variety of regions of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are extremely binders to organic matter, and are often persistent that means they are simple to transport and accumulate in the environment.

PCBs are a major problem for protecting the environment as well as public health. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been proven to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Some studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly relevant for children who have been exposed to these chemicals while in the womb.

PCBs are most commonly consumed through food items. Fish is the main source of exposure, as they are the source of the most PCBs. But, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.

Showering or drinking PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This can be caused by leaks or spills which could occur in electrical and other equipment.

In the same way, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing air or by touching the skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is a small, pale, yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.

The effects of PCBs upon human health are still not fully recognized. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver and the biliary tract cancers in humans, but further studies are needed to understand how this affects us.

EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns, including low birth weight. A low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. Two studies have shown that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights or a later age.

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal that is found in a variety of items like paints pipes, and food cans. It is absorbed by the body via two main routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a strong antioxidant and can react with other chemicals present in the environment. It is able to accumulate within the body and can lead to serious health problems like cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live close to a creosote-based treatment plant run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. how did railroads make western settlement possible has asked the federal government to direct the railroad to clean its toxic site.





Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The company has tried to clean up the mess, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient, residents say.

One of the most significant problems that arose from the contamination was the groundwater plume under the homes in the region. A recent study conducted by the health department has shown that the concentration of creosote present in soil samples near the rail yard is higher than the recommended levels for drinking water.

Another major concern is that the creosote is slowly escaping into the air. It can cause residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors, which could be fatal for children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors could cause cancer for those who inhale them. A door-to-door health assessment is being conducted in the neighborhood to find out more about the effects of the vapors on the lives of residents.

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

A Department of State Health Services study found that the rate of leukemia was five times higher for children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than what was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.