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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 remove an underground plume of creosote at its rail yard that is contaminated. Now, the most recent tests show the contamination could continue to affect those who live nearby.

Researchers believe it could be due to the large number of cancers found in the region. Two years after the launch of an all-state health investigation, researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a chemical commonly that is used to treat wood is also a typical one. It is also a harmful substance that can cause cancer when exposed to it.

It is a thick oily substance that ranges from amber to black in color. It has a smokey scent and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been in use for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other kinds of wood including fence posts, utility poles, Union Pacific Houston Cancer and marine pilings. It is also employed to protect log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says creosote is a risky chemical. The exposure to creosote over short periods of time can cause irritation to the eyes and skin chemical burns stomach pains, burning of the throat or mouth, kidney or liver problems 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 susceptible to cancer.

It is regarded as a possible human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked to a range of cancers of various types including esophageal as well as lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades due 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 lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and implement preventative measures to prevent the spread.

In October 2017, a group comprised of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote contaminated their soil and caused major health problems as a result of the former rail yard.

They are seeking compensation for their illness and suffering and also damages from the railroad for the cost of cleaning and other costs. They claim they are victimized by environmental racism and discrimination in addition to other forms of pollution that have affected them and their families.

Dioxin

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

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

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

It is crucial to keep in mind, however, that exposure to chemicals can affect your health, based on numerous aspects, such as the amount you consume, drink, and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also essential to consider your age, gender and nutrition status, as well as diet and family traits and other factors in your health that could affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant is equally important. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more harmful than others for human health. For instance, polychlorinated Biphenyls (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 a person's immune system and interfere with the development of healthy bones and teeth.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster of cancer deaths that are connected to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is next to their homes. The announcement made by the city's health department revealed that they had identified cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the rail yard. The release noted that the results were not a good sign. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's going to sue Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

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

Once released into the natural environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil in many areas of the world. They are strong binders of organic matter and Union Pacific Houston Cancer can be easily transported and accumulated into the environment.

In the end, PCBs are a major issue for the protection of public health and the environment. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been proven to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Additionally certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly the case for children who've been exposed to these chemicals while during the pregnancy.

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

Showering and drinking water is another method of exposure. This could be due to leaks or spills that can be caused by electrical or other equipment.

People can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or by 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 the health of humans aren't fully understood. Researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However, more research is needed to discover how this affects us.

EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns, like low birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and later-life cardiovascular diseases. Two studies have shown that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights , and/or later in life.

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal that is found in a wide range of products, including pipes, paints and food containers. The body can absorb it via two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a powerful antioxidant that can react with other chemicals in the environment. This can lead to it accumulating within the body. This can lead to serious health problems like cancer and other illnesses.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote-based plant that is its legacy have a high incidence of cancer. The city has asked the federal government to instruct the railroad to cleanse its toxic site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. Residents say that the company has been trying to remove the contamination but the plan that was submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

One of the most significant problems that resulted from the contamination was the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. A recent study by health officials has revealed that soil samples from the rail yard contain an increased amount of creosote than the recommended amount for drinking water.

Another major concern is that the creosote vapor is slowly escaping into the air. It causes residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors, which could cause death for both children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors could cause cancer for those who breathe them. To learn more about the effect of the vapors on lives of residents the neighborhood, a door-to-door survey being conducted in the neighborhood.

This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It's a sad state of affairs and it should be taken care of immediately.

A recent study by the Department of State Health Services found that children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a type leukemia at five times higher rate than the average. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in these areas than in other areas of Texas.