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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn’t taken the necessary steps to clean up an underground plume contaminated rail yard. And now, the latest tests have revealed that the contamination may still be affecting people who live near.

Researchers say it may be related to the elevated cancer rates in the region. Two years after the launch of an all-state health investigation Researchers found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the vicinity of the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a chemical commonly employed in the treatment of wood. It is also a poisonous substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance that's amber or black in color and has a smoky odor and burnt taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

It is used in the United States to treat railroad ties, as well as other types of woods like fence posts, utility poles, and pilings from marine construction. It is also used to shield log homes and other structures from insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states creosote is a risky chemical. The exposure to creosote over brief periods may cause skin and eye irritation as well as chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney issues, and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a major concern for workers who have direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

According to the EPA, it is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with many types of cancer that include esophageal aswell as lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote thanks to a former railroad yard near their homes. They claim the chemical has affected their homes and soil 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 to take measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

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

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

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that don't break down quickly in the environment and they can remain in the soil, air, or sediment for a lengthy period of time. They can be found in diverse sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents cigarette smoke and incineration of hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health are unclear at low levels, however there is evidence to suggest that they can cause cancer and other serious illnesses. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers immune disorders, and endocrine problems, including hormonal imbalances. Union Pacific Cancer can also lead to reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, menstrual issues and diabetes, weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts, known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most prevalent way people are exposed is through water and food. They are not volatile and water-soluble, so they are easily absorbed by the body through the consumption of dairy products, meat fish, and other seafood.

It is crucial to keep in mind, however, that exposure can cause harm to your health depending on many aspects, such as the amount you eat, drink, and the frequency you breathe. You should also take into consideration your gender and age, your diet, and family characteristics to determine if your family will be exposed to dioxins.

The type of contaminant is also important. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on human health than others. For instance, polychlorinated benzene (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative effect on your health than creosote.

For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys, and liver. They also can harm 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 cluster of cancer-related deaths that has been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their homes. The city's health department announced Friday that it has found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The announcement said 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 proposed by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)





PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic chemicals that have been used for more than 60 years in consumer and industrial products. After being proven to cause cancer and weaken the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

Once released into the natural environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil across the world. They bind strongly to organic matter and tend to be persistent that means they are easy to transport and build up in the environment.

PCBs are a major concern for protecting the environment and public health. The EPA considers them a potential human carcinogen , and has demonstrated that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Additionally, some studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. Union Pacific Cancer Cluster is particularly the case for children exposed these chemicals in the womb.

PCBs are most commonly ingested through food items. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Drinking and showering with PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This can be caused by leaks or spills in electrical equipment and other.

People can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through skin contact. These chemicals can cause an illness known as Chloracne. This is a tiny, pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that may last for weeks or even years.

The effects of PCBs upon human health are not completely known. Some researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and the biliary tract cancers in humans, however more studies are needed to understand how this affects us.

EPA is also studying whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, including lower birth weight. 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 later in life.

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal that is found in many items, such as paints, pipes, and food cans. The body can absorb it through two main routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a strong oxidizing chemical and can react with other substances in your environment. This could cause it to build up within the body. This can cause serious health issues like cancer, among other illnesses.

Houston residents who live near to the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote-based plant that is its legacy have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to order the railroad to clean its contaminated facility.

Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having caused harm to its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Residents claim that the railroad has been working to eliminate the contamination, but the plan submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is one of the most grave consequences of the contamination. A recent study by the health department has revealed that the concentration of creosote present in soil samples near the rail yard is higher than the level recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is the gradual release of creosote into the atmosphere. As it is, it is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors that can be harmful to children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer among those who breathe them. A door-to-door health survey is currently being carried out in the neighborhood to find out more about how the vapors are impacting the lives of the residents.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It is a sad situation and it should be resolved immediately.

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