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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn’t taken the necessary steps to clean the underground plume that was contaminated with rail yard. The latest tests have demonstrated that the contamination may be impacting residents living near.

Researchers believe that it could be due to the high rate of cancers that are found in the area. Two years into a state health investigation the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers within the communities around the Union Pacific Cancer Cluster Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote which is a common chemical used in the treatment of wood is also a popular one. It is also a harmful substance that can cause cancer when exposed to it.

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

It is widely used in the United States to treat railroad tiesand other types of woods, Union Pacific Houston Cancer like fence posts and utility poles, as well as pilings for marine use. It can also be used to safeguard log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares creosote is a dangerous chemical. In the event of exposure to creosote for a short periods can result in irritation to the eyes and skin, chemical burns, stomach discomfort, burning of the mouth or throat as well as liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.

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

According to the EPA it is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a number of different types of cancer including esophageal and lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, due to a former railroad yard right next to their homes. They say the chemical has contaminated their homes and soil, and it continues to spread underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test regularly for contamination and take steps to stop it from spreading.

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

They are seeking damages from the railroad to pay the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they've been harmed by environmental racism discrimination, sexism, and other types of pollution that has affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that don't break down in the environment quickly . They can be left in the air, in the soil, or sediment for a long period. They can come from a variety of sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents cigarette smoke and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin at low levels are not known, there is evidence that they can trigger serious illnesses such as cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels of dioxin are found to be at risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system disorders and endocrine disorders like hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to problems with hormones, immune suppression as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most prevalent way people are exposed to the toxins 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 or fish and other seafood.

It is crucial to keep in mind, however, that exposure to chemicals can have a detrimental effect on your health depending on many aspects, such as the amount you consume, drink, and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also important to take into account your gender, age, nutrition, and Union Pacific Houston Cancer family characteristics to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.

The type of contaminant is equally 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 affect your health.

For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys, and liver. They can also harm the immune system and cause problems with the growth of healthy bones, teeth, and bones.

For years, residents in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a string of cancer deaths that have been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their communities. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department stated that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the surface near the rail yard. The announcement 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 that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators wouldn't be adequate given the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

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

PCBs can infect soil and water as well as air in a variety of regions of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are powerful binders of organic matter that can be easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.

This is why PCBs are a major concern for the protection of public health and the environment. The EPA is adamant that they are a human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

In addition certain studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals during pregnancy.

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

Drinking and showering with PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This can result from leaks or spills that can occur in electrical and other equipment.

Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs through breathing air or through their skin. These chemicals can cause the condition known as chloracne which is small, pale, yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.

However, the effects of PCBs on human health aren't completely understood. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary tract cancers in humans, however more studies are needed to determine what this means for us.

EPA is also studying whether these chemicals may cause birth defects for newborns, including lower birth weight. Low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular disease. Two studies have shown that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or a later age.

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal that is found in a wide range of products, including paints, pipes and food cans. It is absorbed into the body via two main pathways: oral and respiratory.

It is a strong chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other substances in your environment. This could cause it to build up in the body and can lead to serious health problems such as cancer and other illnesses.

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

Union Pacific Cancer Cluster 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. The company has tried to clean up the mess, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient residents claim.

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

Another concern is the slow release of creosote in the air. As it is, 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 those who breathe them. A door-to-door health assessment is being conducted in the area to understand how the vapors affect the residents' lives.

This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a terribly sad situation that needs to be addressed immediately.

A Department of State Health Services study discovered that leukemia rates were 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 frequent in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.