Railroad Workers 101The Complete Guide For Beginners

Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn’t done enough to clean the underground plume that was contaminated with rail yard. Union Pacific Cancer have shown that the contamination may be an issue for residents living nearby.

Researchers believe that it could be due to the large number of cancers in the area. Railroad Workers Cancer after the launch of a state-wide health investigation Researchers found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote which is a common chemical used in the treatment of wood, is also a common one. It is also a cause of cancer in people exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been in use for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

It is utilized in the United States to treat railroad tiesand other types of woods like fence posts, utility poles, as well as marine pilings. It is also employed to protect log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote can be a hazardous chemical. A short-term exposure could cause skin and eye irritation chemical burns, stomach pain burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems.

Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum tumors. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.

It is believed to be a human carcinogen, according to the EPA. 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 decades to creosote, because of a former railroad yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their soil, homes and continues to spread underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the effort to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test for contamination regularly and adopt 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 had contaminated their soil and caused significant health issues as a result of the former rail yard.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering and also damages from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other associated costs. They also claim that they are harmed by environmental racism and discrimination, in addition to other types of pollution that have impacted them and their families.

Railroad Workers And Cancer are substances that don't break down quickly in the environment, and can remain in the air, water, soil or sediment for an extended period of. They can be found in a variety of places, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarettes, and incineration or hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin are not 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 an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune disorders, and endocrine issues such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a weakened immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes as well as hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most frequent way that people are exposed dioxin is through drinking water or food. They aren't volatile nor water-soluble, which means they are more easily to be absorbed by the body through the consumption of dairy products, meat fish, and other seafood.

However, it is important to remember that the level of exposure that can have negative effects on your health is dependent on many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you drink or eat, and how much you breathe. It is also important to take into account your gender and age, as well as your nutrition and family traits to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.

The type of contaminant is also crucial. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more harmful than others to the health of humans. Polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs are more likely than creosote affect your health.

PCBs can cause damage to the eyes, liver, kidneys, and kidneys. They can also affect the immune system of a person and hinder the growth of healthy bones and teeth.

Union Pacific Cancer and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years of cluster of cancers that have been caused by the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is right next to their homes. The city's health department said on Friday that it found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The release stated 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 plan submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not suffice.





Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

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

Once released into Union Pacific Cancer Cluster , PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil across the world. They are strong binding agents of organic matter and can be easily transported and accumulated into the environment.

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

Certain studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly the case for children who've been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.

The main route of exposure to PCBs is through food. Fish is the main source of exposure since they are the source of the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in dairy products, beef and other agricultural products.

Another way to get exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been polluted with PCBs. This can be caused by leaks or spills that occur in electrical and other equipment.

In the same way, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or by touching the skin. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as chloracne which is small, pale skin lesions that can last from weeks to years.

However the effects of PCBs on human health aren't completely known. Researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However, more research is needed to discover how this impacts us.

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

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal that is present in a variety of products including paints, pipes and food cans. The body absorbs it via two routes: the respiratory and oral.

It is a strong chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your environment. It can build up in the body, and could lead to serious health issues, such as cancer and other diseases.

In Houston, people who live close to a creosote-based treatment plant run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has asked the federal government for an order to the railroad to cleanse its contaminated site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having been a source of contamination for its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The company has tried to eliminate the contamination, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient, residents say.

One of the major problems that resulted due to the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the area. A recent study by health officials has shown that soil samples from the rail yard have more creosote than what is required for drinking water.

Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It is causing residents to inhale toxic levels of vapors, which can cause fatalities for both children as well as adults.

It is also possible that gases are causing cancers in the residents who are breathing the vapors in. A door-to door health survey is being conducted in the neighborhood to learn more about how the vapors impact the lives of the residents.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It is a sad situation and needs to be resolved immediately.

A recent study by the Department of State Health Services found that children in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a type of leukemia at a five times greater rate than what was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.