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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. The most recent tests have shown that the contamination could be affecting residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it could be due to the high rate 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 lymphoblastic cancer in children as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote which is a common chemical used for the treatment of wood is also a very common one. It can cause cancer in people who are exposed to it.

It is a dense, oily substance that is amber or black in color and has a smokey odor and a burnt flavor. It is a coal tar distillation product that 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 as well as other kinds of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It is also used to protect log structures and homes against rot and insect infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote is a chemical that could be dangerous. Exposure to creosote for short periods of time can cause irritation to the eyes and skin as well as chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of mouth or throat as well as liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum Cancer Lawsuit Settlements. 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 possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a variety of different types of cancer such as esophageal or lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote because of a former railroad yard near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, soil and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination regularly and take preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.

In October 2017 a group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes and is causing serious health problems.

They are seeking damages from the railroad to help cover the cost of cleanup as well as other related costs. They claim that they have been harmed by environmental racism and discrimination in addition to other forms of pollution that has adversely affected their families and friends.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that do not break down in the environment quickly . They can be left in the air, water soil, or sediment for long periods. They can come from a variety of sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents smoking cigarettes, and incineration of hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health are unclear at low levels, but there is evidence that dioxin can cause cancer and other serious diseases. Dioxin levels that are higher are linked to a higher risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune issues, and endocrine issues, like hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to hormonal problems, suppressed immunity womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most frequent way that people are exposed is through food and water. They aren't water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be absorbed into the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products or fish and other seafood.

However, it is important to be aware that the amount of exposure that will have a harmful effect on your health is dependent on many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you eat or drink and how much air you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your age, gender and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics in addition to other health factors that can determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant also crucial. According to the EPA the EPA, certain toxins are more dangerous than others for the health of humans. For instance, polychlorinated benzene (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental effect on your health than creosote.

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

For years, residents of 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, close to their neighborhoods. The city's health department announced on Friday that it has found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The release said that the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's going to sue Union Pacific Cancer Cluster Pacific over the matter, and said a plan that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators wouldn't be sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been employed in industrial and consumer products for over 60 years. After being found to cause cancer and weaken the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.

Once released into the environment, Union Pacific Houston Cancer PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water throughout the world. They are extremely binders to organic matter, and tend to remain in the environment for a long time, meaning they are relatively easy to transport and build up in the environment.

PCBs are a significant concern to protect the environment and public health. They are regarded as a possible human carcinogen by EPA, and have been demonstrated to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially applicable to children who have been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.

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

Another way to be exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. This could be the result of leaks or spills from electrical or other equipment.

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

However the effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they may cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However it is necessary to conduct more research to better understand how this affects us.

The EPA is also studying whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns. Low birth weight has been linked with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Two studies showed that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights , and/or a later age.

Lead

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

It is a strong chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your surroundings. This can lead to its accumulation within the body. This can cause serious health issues such as cancer and other illnesses.

In Houston the residents who live near a creosote legacy treatment plant run by Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked the federal government for an order to the railroad to remove its contaminated facility.

The Union Pacific Railroad Workers Cancer Lawsuit has a history of contaminating its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic for humans, such as creosote. The company has been working to get rid of the mess, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough residents say.

One of the most significant problems that arose from the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the area. A recent study conducted by health officials has revealed that soil samples taken from the rail yard have a higher concentration of creosote than the recommended amount for drinking water.

Another cause for concern is the slow evaporation of creosote in the air. It causes residents to breathe harmful levels of vapors which could cause death for both children as well as adults.

It is also possible that gases are causing cancers in the residents who are breathing them in. To find out more about the effect of the vapors' effects on the lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being done in the neighborhood.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a tragic situation that must be addressed immediately.

A Department of State Health Services study found that the rate of leukemia was five times higher among children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than what was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more common in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.