The Guide To Railroad Workers In 2023

Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn’t done enough to clean up an underground plume contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have shown that contamination could still be an issue for residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it could be due to the large number of cancers in the area. Two years into a state-wide health investigation the researchers found higher than anticipated levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers within the communities around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical that is used to treat wood, is also a common one. It is also a cause of cancer in those who are exposed to it.

It is a heavy, oily substance that is black or amber in color and has a smoky smell and a burnt flavor. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years to preserve wood.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other kinds of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It can also be used for protecting log homes and other structures against insects and rot.

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

Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are susceptible to cancer.

It is believed to be a human carcinogen as per the EPA. It has been linked to a range of different cancer types including esophageal as well as lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, thanks to a former railroad yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They are requesting that the company tests regularly for contamination and take steps to prevent it from spreading.

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





They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering as well as damages from railroads for the cost of cleaning and other associated costs. They claim that they have been victimized by environmental racism and discrimination and other forms of pollution that have affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that aren't able to break down in the environment quickly and can remain in the air, water soil or in sediment for a long period. They can be found in many places that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health are not clear at low levels, but there is evidence to suggest that they may cause cancer as well as other serious illnesses. The people who are exposed to higher levels of dioxin are found to have an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system disorders and endocrine changes like hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal issues, suppressed immunity and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most frequent way that people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They aren't volatile and water-soluble, therefore they are more easily absorbed by the body through the consumption of dairy products, meat such as fish, as well as other seafood.

However, it is crucial to remember that the amount of exposure that can have a harmful effect on your health is dependent on several factors, such as the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you eat or drink and how much air you breathe. It is also important to take into account your gender and age, as well as your nutrition and family traits to determine whether you will be exposed to dioxins.

The type of contaminant is also important. According to the EPA certain toxins are more harmful than others to human health. Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to negatively impact your health.

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

For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a rash of cancer deaths that have been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is located near their homes. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department claimed that it discovered cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples near the rail yard. The release said that the findings were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan submitted to Texas environmental regulators isn't sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

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

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

PCBs are a major issue for the protection of the environment and public health. The EPA considers them to be a possible human carcinogen and has proved that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Additionally, some studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially true for children exposed to PCBs in the womb.

PCBs are most often ingested through food items. Fish is the main source of exposure because they are the largest source of PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products, and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that is infected with PCBs. This could be caused by leaks or spills from electrical and other equipment.

People can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or coming into contact with skin. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as Chloracne. This is a mild pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that may last for months or even years.

The effects of PCBs upon human health are still not completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However further research is required to discover how this affects us.

Railroad Workers Cancer is also investigating whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, such as low birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns is associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in the course of. In two studies, children 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 including paints, pipes, and food cans. The body can absorb it through two main routes: the respiratory and oral.

It is a powerful chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other substances in your environment. This can lead to its accumulation within the body and lead to serious health problems such as cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live close to a creosote-based treatment plant run by Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to direct the railroad to cleanse its toxic site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of been a source of contamination for its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. The railroad has been trying to get rid of the mess, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough residents say.

One of the most significant problems that stemmed from the contamination was the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. A recent study by health officials has revealed that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain higher levels of creosote than the recommended amount for drinking water.

Another issue is the slow escape of creosote from the atmosphere. It causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that are harmful for children as well as adults.

It is also possible that gases are causing cancers in the people who breathe them in. To find out more about the effects of the vapors in the lives of residents there is a door-to door survey being done in the neighborhood.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It's a pity and it should be taken care of immediately.

A Department of State Health Services study discovered that leukemia rates were five times higher among children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens areas than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhood than they were elsewhere in Texas.