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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

For decades, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to clean up an underground plume of creosote at its rail yard that is contaminated. Recent tests have revealed that the contamination may be an issue for residents living nearby.

Researchers suggest it could be linked to the increased cancer rates in the region. Two years into a health inspection by the state, they found higher-than-expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia Caused By Railroad How To Get A Settlement and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical, is that is used in the treatment of wood. It is also a toxic substance that can cause cancer when exposed to it.

It is a thick oily substance which is black or amber-colored and has a smoky smell and a burnt taste. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preserver.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad cancer lawsuit ties as well as other kinds of wood, including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It is also used to protect log houses and leukemia Caused by railroad how to get a settlement other structures from the effects of rot and insect invasion.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says creosote is a hazardous chemical. In the event of exposure to creosote for a brief periods may cause irritation to the eyes and skin, chemical burns, stomach discomfort, burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.

Exposure for long periods can lead to skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.

It is regarded as a possible human carcinogen according to the EPA. It has been linked to a variety of cancers which include esophageal, as well as lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for a long time, thanks to an old rail yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their soil, homes and continues to spread underground.

The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and adopt preventative measures to stop the spread.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes , causing serious health problems.

They are seeking compensation for their diseases and suffering and damages from railroads for the cost of cleanup and other costs. They also claim that they are affected 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 aren't able to break down in the environment quickly , and can remain in the air, water soil or sediment for a long period. They can be derived from various sources, such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health are not clear at low levels, but there is evidence that suggests they can trigger cancer and other serious illnesses. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked to increased risk for heart disease, organ cancers immune disorders, and endocrine problems, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes as well as hair growth, weight loss and facial cysts, known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most common way people are exposed to the toxins is through food and water. They are not volatile or water-soluble so they are more easily to be absorbed by the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products such as fish, as well as other seafood.

However, it is crucial to remember that the level of exposure that could have a harmful effect on your health depends on several factors, such as the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you eat or drink and how much air you breathe. You should also consider your gender and age, nutritional status, and family traits to determine if you will be exposed to dioxins.

The type of contaminant crucial. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to cause harm impact on human health than others. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative impact 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 the 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 series of cancer-related deaths that has been related to the Union Pacific rail yard, close to their neighborhoods. The announcement released on Friday lymphoma caused by railroad how to get a settlement Houston's health department said that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the rail yard. The release stated that the findings were "not encouraging." FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposal submitted by Texas environmental regulators won't be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

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

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water throughout the world. They are strong binding agents of organic matter, and are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a major problem to protect the environment and public health. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been found to cause cancer in lab animals.

Furthermore certain studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially the case for children exposed PCBs in the womb.

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

Another way to get exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been polluted with PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills which could be aplastic anemia caused by railroad how to get a settlement by electrical or other equipment.

In the same way, people can be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or by touching the skin. These chemicals can cause the condition known as chloracne which is a mild, small yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.

However the effects of PCBs on the human body are not fully known. Some researchers have suggested they may cause liver and biliary tract cancer in humans, but more studies are needed to discover how this affects us.

EPA has also been examining whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns, like less weight at birth. Low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. Two studies have shown that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or older.

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal and is found in many products, such as paints, pipes and food containers. It can be absorbed by the body via two main routes: respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely antioxidant that can react with other chemicals in the environment. It can build up within the body and can lead to serious health issues like cancer and other ailments.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote facility are at risk of cancer. The city has asked the federal government for an order to the railroad asbestos settlement to cleanse its toxic site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The company has tried to get rid of the contamination, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough residents believe.

One of the most important problems that stemmed due to the contamination is the groundwater plume under the homes in the area. A recent study by the health department shows that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples in the rail yard is more than the recommended levels for drinking water.

Another issue is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It can cause residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors, which can cause fatalities for children as well as adults.

It is also possible that vapors are causing cancers in the residents who are breathing them in. A door-to-door health assessment is being conducted in the area to find out more about how the vapors affect the residents' lives.

This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It's a pity and needs to be resolved immediately.

A recent study by the Department of State Health Services found that children in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a type of leukemia at five times more frequently than was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more common in these areas than elsewhere in Texas.