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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, Railroad Workers Cancer show that the contamination could continue to affect people who live near.

Researchers suggest it could be due to higher cancer rates in the region. Two years into a state-wide health investigation and they found higher than expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

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

It is a dense oily substance, amber to black in color. It has a smokey smell and a burnt taste. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preserver.

In Union Pacific Cancer Cluster United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other types of wood, including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It can also be used to guard log structures and homes against the effects of rot and insect invasion.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that creosote can be an extremely hazardous chemical. Exposure to creosote for brief periods may cause irritation to the eyes and skin chemical burns, stomach discomfort, burning of the throat or mouth, kidney or liver problems and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a significant concern for those who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

It is regarded as a possible human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked with a variety kinds of cancers including esophageal and lung cancer.

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

Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination regularly and take preventative measures 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 that was emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating soil under their homes and causing serious health issues.

They are seeking compensation for their diseases and suffering, as well as damages from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other costs. They claim they are victimized by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other kinds of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which aren't able to break down in the environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, in the soil or sediment for a long time. They are found in many places that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels aren't known but there is evidence that they can cause serious illnesses , such as cancer. The people who are exposed to higher levels of dioxin have been found to be at risk of heart disease, organ cancers as well as immune system issues and endocrine changes including hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues, hair growth, weight loss and facial cysts called chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most popular way people are exposed is through food and water. They are not liquid or volatile, which means they are more likely to be absorbed into the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish and other seafood.

It is crucial to keep in mind, however, that exposure to dioxins could affect your health depending on many factors , including how much you eat, drink, and the frequency with which you breathe. You should also take into consideration your gender, age, nutrition, and family characteristics to determine if you will be exposed to dioxins.

Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is also an important aspect. The EPA declares that certain toxins are more likely to have a negative impact on health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to cause harm to your health.

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

For years, residents in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a string of cancer deaths that has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their communities. The city's health department reported on Friday that it has found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The release stated that the results weren't 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 suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenyls, are harmful chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. After being shown to cause cancer and suppress the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.

When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water throughout the world. They bind tightly to organic matter, and tend to remain in the environment for a long time which means they are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a significant concern for the protection of the environment and public health. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been proven to cause cancer in lab animals.

Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially the case for children who've been exposed to these chemicals while during the pregnancy.

The primary route of exposure to PCBs is through food items. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products and other agricultural products.

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

Additionally, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is small, pale yellow skin lesions that can be present for a period of weeks or years.

The effects of PCBs on the health of humans aren't completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However it is necessary to conduct more research to determine how this affects us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborn babies. Low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and later-life cardiovascular disease. Two studies revealed that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or an earlier age.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal and is present in a wide range of products, including paints, pipes and food containers. The body absorbs it through two major routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a strong antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals found in the environment. This could cause it to build up within the body. This can lead to serious health problems like cancer and other diseases.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's legacy creosote plant are at risk of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in cleaning up the railroad's contamination site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of affected its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Residents claim that the company has been working to remove the contamination but the plan presented to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

The plume of groundwater that flows below the homes in the affected area is among the most serious consequences of the contamination. A recent study by the health department has shown that the concentration of creosote present in soil samples around the rail yard is more than the level recommended for drinking water.

Another issue is the gradual release of creosote in the air. It is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which are dangerous for children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors could cause cancer in people who inhale them. To find out more about the effects of the vapors on lives of residents there is a door-to door survey being done in the neighborhood.

This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It is a sad situation and must be taken care of 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 was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhood than they were elsewhere in Texas.