Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn't done enough to clean up an underground plume contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have demonstrated that the contamination may be impacting residents living near.

Researchers believe it could be related to elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years after the launch of a state-wide health investigation and a study by researchers, they found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic childhood as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the vicinity of the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is one of the most common chemicals used in the treatment of wood. It can cause cancer in people who are exposed to it.

It is a thick oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a bitter taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other kinds of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It is also used to safeguard log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote could be a hazardous chemical. In the event of exposure to creosote for a short periods of time can cause skin and eye irritation chemical burns stomach pains, burning of mouth or throat and liver or kidney issues, and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure can lead to skin and scrotum carcinomas. Workers who come in 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 to many types of cancer, including esophageal as well lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for years, thanks to an old rail yard located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated, and continues to spread underground.

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

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 major health issues from the former rail yard.

They are seeking compensation from the Railroad Workers Cancer to pay the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim to have been harmed by racism in the environment discrimination, sexism, and other forms of pollution that affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that aren't able to break down in the environment quickly . They can be left in the air, water soil or in sediment for a long time. They are found in a variety of locations in natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration as well as hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin aren't clear at low levels, however there is evidence that they may cause cancer as well as other serious diseases. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune problems, and endocrine issues such as hormonal imbalances. They can also cause problems with hormones, immune suppression, diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

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

However, it is important to remember that the level of exposure that has a harmful effect on your health depends on many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you drink or eat and how often you breathe. It is also crucial to consider your gender, age and Union Pacific Houston Cancer nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics along with other health factors that may affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.

In addition, the form of contaminant can be an important factor. According to the EPA, some toxins are more harmful than others to human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to cause harm to your health.

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

For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a rash of cancer deaths that has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their homes. The city's health department said on Friday that it had discovered cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The release said that the results were "not encouraging." FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposal submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. After being shown to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

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

In the end, PCBs are a major issue for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. They are considered a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been proven to cause cancer in lab animals.

Furthermore certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals while in the womb.

PCBs are most commonly ingested through food items. Fish is the main source of exposure since they are the source of the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products, and other agricultural products.

Showering or Union Pacific Houston Cancer drinking PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This can happen from spills or leaks that may occur in electrical and other equipment.

Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or through their skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as Chloracne. This is small pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last from weeks or even years.

The effects of PCBs upon human health are still not fully comprehended. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver or the biliary tract cancers in humans, but more studies are needed to determine how this impacts us.

EPA has also been examining whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns, such as low birth weight. Low birth weight is associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. Two studies revealed that children with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights and/or a later age.

Lead

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

It is an extremely chemical that can oxidize and react with other chemicals in your environment. This can cause it to accumulate within the body and cause serious health issues such as cancer and other diseases.

Houston residents who live near the Union Pacific Railroad's legacy creosote plant have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked the federal government to instruct the railroad to cleanse the site that is contaminated.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contamination of its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals for humans, such as creosote. Residents have claimed that the company has been working to clean up contamination but the plan that was submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

One of the major problems that resulted from the contamination was the groundwater plume beneath homes in the area. A recent study by health officials has revealed that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain higher levels of creosote than what is required for drinking water.

Another issue is that the creosote vapor is slowly escaping into the air. It is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which can be fatal for both children as well as adults.

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

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

A recent study by the Department of State Health Services discovered that children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a form of leukemia at a five times more frequently than was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more frequent in the neighborhood than they were elsewhere in Texas.