Why Is Everyone Talking About Railroad Workers Right Now

[1] 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. Now, the most recent tests have revealed that the contamination may continue to affect people who live near.

Researchers believe it could be due to the high number of cancers that are found in the area. Two years after the launch of a state-wide health investigation the researchers discovered that there were higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is one of the most common chemicals employed in the treatment of wood. It is also a harmful substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a heavy, oily substance that is black or amber-colored and has a smoky scent and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been used for more than 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.

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 is also employed to protect log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote can be a dangerous chemical. Short-term exposure can cause eye and skin irritation and chemical burns, stomach discomfort, burning of the throat or mouth 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.

According to the EPA, it is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with a variety kinds of cancers including esophageal and lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote over the years due to an old rail yard close to their homes. The chemical is said to have affected their homes as well as their soil, and it continues to spread underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the effort to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination regularly and implement preventative measures to prevent the spread.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating soil beneath their homes and causing serious health issues.

They are seeking compensation from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim that they have been suffering from environmental racism and discrimination, in addition to other types of pollution that have affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which don't break down in environment quickly , and can remain in the air, in the soil or in sediment for a lengthy period. They can be found in a variety of places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health aren't clear at low levels, but there is evidence that they can trigger cancer and other serious illnesses. People exposed to higher levels of dioxin are found to be at greater risk of heart disease, organ cancers as well as immune system issues and endocrine issues, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes, weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts called chloracne.

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 liquid or volatile, which means they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of meat, dairy products or fish and other seafood.

It is important to remember that exposure to dioxins could be detrimental to your health, depending on many aspects, such as the amount you eat, drink, and the frequency you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender and age, your diet, and family characteristics to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.

Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is an important factor. According to the EPA, some toxins are more harmful than others to human health. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative effect on your health than creosote.

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

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about a cluster of cancers that have been that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is right close to their homes. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department stated that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the rail yard. The announcement said the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan submitted to Texas environmental regulators won't be sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated Biphenyls, are noxious chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in industrial and consumer products. PCBs were banned in 1979, after being found to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and interfere with learning.

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil across the world. They bind tightly to organic matter and tend to remain in the environment for a long time that means they are easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.

In the end, PCBs are a major concern for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. The EPA considers them to be a possible human carcinogen and has proved that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Certain studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals while during the pregnancy.

PCBs are most commonly ingested through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products and other agricultural products.

Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This can be caused by leaks or spills from electrical equipment and other.

Additionally, Railroad Workers Cancer can be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or through the skin. These chemicals can trigger a condition called chloracne, which is a tiny, pale yellow skin lesions which can last for weeks or even years.

However the effects of PCBs on human health aren't fully understood. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However further research is required to better understand how this affects us.

EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, including low birth weight. Low birth weight has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and later-life cardiovascular disease. Two studies revealed that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights , and/or an earlier age.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal and can be found in a wide range of products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. It can be absorbed by the body through two main routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a powerful oxidizing chemical and can react with other chemicals present in your environment. This could cause it to build up in the body , and could cause serious health issues like cancer, among other ailments.

In Houston the residents who live near a creosote treatment plant owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has asked for the assistance of the federal government in the cleanup of the railroad's 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. Residents have claimed that the company has been working to get rid of the pollution, but the plan presented to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is among the most dangerous consequences of the contamination. A recent study by the health department shows that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples from the rail yard is more than the levels recommended for drinking water.

Another major concern is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It causes residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors which could cause death for children and adults.

It is also possible that vapors are causing cancers in the residents who breathe the vapors in. To learn more about the impact of the vapors in the lives of residents the neighborhood, a door-to-door survey being conducted in the neighborhood.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a very sad situation that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

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