The Reasons Railroad Workers Is Harder Than You Imagine

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 plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. And now, the latest tests suggest that the contamination could still be affecting people who live nearby.

Researchers believe that it could be due to the large number of cancers that are found in the area. Two years into a state-wide health investigation, they found higher-than-expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia as well as adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers within the communities around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a chemical commonly used to treat wood is also a popular one. It is also a dangerous substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a heavy 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 that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preserver.

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

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) creosote can be a potentially dangerous chemical. The exposure to creosote over short periods of time can cause irritation to the eyes and skin and chemical burns, stomach discomfort, burning of the throat or mouth, kidney or liver problems, and even permanent damage.

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

According to the EPA, it is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with various cancers which include esophageal, as well as lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades due to a former rail yard near their homes. The chemical is said to have 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 demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to stop 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 the soil beneath their homes and causing significant health issues.

They are seeking damages from the railroad to pay the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They claim that they have been affected by environmental racism and discrimination, and other kinds of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals which do not break down quickly in the environment and they can be found in the air, water, soil or in sediment for a long period of. They are found in a variety of places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration and hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels are not yet known, there is evidence that they could cause serious diseases like cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels of dioxin are found to be at a higher risk of organ cancers, heart disease as well as immune system issues and endocrine changes including hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, diabetes and menstrual issues hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most common method people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They aren't water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of dairy products, fish or other seafood.

However, it is crucial to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that will have detrimental effects on your health is contingent upon many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you eat or drink and how often you breathe. It is also essential to consider your age, gender as well as your diet, nutritional status and family characteristics, as well as other health factors that can influence whether you will be affected by dioxins or not.

Additionally, the type of contaminant is another important aspect. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more harmful than others for human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs are more likely than creosote to have a negative effect on your health.

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

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 located close to their homes. Csx Lawsuit Settlements announced Friday that it had found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The announcement said the results were "not encouraging." Railroad Cancer Settlements stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposed plan by Texas environmental regulators won't suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. After being proven to cause cancer and weaken the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.

PCBs can cause contamination of soil, water, and air in many regions of the world after they are released into the environment. They are extremely binders to organic matter, and are often persistent, meaning they are relatively easy to transport and build up in the environment.

PCBs are a major problem for the protection of the environment and public health. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

In addition, some studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially applicable to children who have been exposed to these chemicals during pregnancy.

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

Another way to be exposed PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. This can happen from spills or leaks that may be caused by electrical or other equipment.

People may also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or through skin contact. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is a small, pale, yellow skin lesions that can last from weeks to years.

The effects of PCBs on human health are not fully comprehended. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However Lung Cancer Lawsuit Settlements is necessary to conduct more research to better understand how this affects us.

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

Lead

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

It is a powerful oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals in the environment. This can cause it to accumulate within the body. This can lead to serious health problems like cancer and other ailments.

In Houston residents living near a creosote legacy treatment facility owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has requested assistance from the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's contamination site.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contaminating its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, like creosote. Residents claim that the company has been working to remove the contamination but the proposal submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is among the most dangerous effects of the contamination. A recent study conducted by the department of health shows that the concentration of creosote present in soil samples near the rail yard is much higher than the level recommended for drinking water.

Another cause for concern is the slow escape of creosote to the atmosphere. It is causing residents to inhale dangerous levels of vapors, which could be fatal for both children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer among those who inhale them. To learn more about the effects of the vapors on the lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being conducted in the neighborhood.

This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a very sad situation that must be addressed immediately.

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