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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

For decades, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to remove creosote-laden creosote plume that was at its rail yard that is contaminated. The most recent tests have shown that contamination is still an issue for residents living nearby.

railroad settlement  believe it could be due to the high number of cancers in the area. Two years after the launch of an all-state health investigation and a study by researchers, they found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic cancer in children and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a chemical commonly used to treat wood. It is also a poisonous substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a thick oily substance, amber to black in color. It has a smoky smell and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years to preserve wood.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other kinds of wood, including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It can also be used to guard log structures and homes against insects and rot.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote is a chemical that could be dangerous. In short-term exposure, it can cause irritation to the skin and eyes as well as chemical burns, stomach discomfort burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems.

Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum carcinomas. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are at risk.

It is considered a probable human carcinogen, according to the EPA. It has been linked to a range of cancers of various types including esophageal and lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for a long time due to the former rail yard that was located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their soil, homes, and continues to spread underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the initiative to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination on a regular basis and adopt preventative measures to stop the spread.

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

They are seeking compensation for their illnesses and suffering and also compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleaning and other associated costs. They claim that they have been harmed by racism in the environment and discrimination as well as other types of pollution that has affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that don't break down in the environment quickly , and can remain in the air, in the soil or sediment for long periods. They can be found in a variety places, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration as well as hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels are not well-studied however, there is evidence to suggest that they can cause serious illnesses , such as cancer. Higher levels of dioxin are linked to a higher risk for organ cancers, heart disease immune issues, and endocrine disorders, including hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive problems, a weakened immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes, hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most popular way people are exposed is through food and water. They are not water-soluble or volatile, so 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 be detrimental to your health based on a variety of aspects, such as the amount you drink, eat and the frequency you breathe. You should also take into consideration your gender, age, nutrition, and family characteristics to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.

Additionally, the type of contaminant can be an important factor. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on the human body than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to negatively impact your health.

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

For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a cluster of cancer deaths that has been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their communities. The city's health department announced on Friday that it has found cancer-causing chemical compounds in surface samples near the rail yard. The release stated that the results weren't encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal presented to Texas environmental regulators wouldn't be sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in consumer and industrial products. After they were proven to cause cancer and inhibit the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.

After being released into the atmosphere, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil 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 easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

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

Certain 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.

PCBs are mainly consumed through food items. Fish are the primary source of exposure because they contain the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been infected with PCBs. This could be the result of leaks or spills that occur in electrical and other equipment.

People may also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or by skin contact. These chemicals can cause the condition known as chloracne which is small, pale yellow skin lesions which can be present for a period of weeks or years.

However the effects of PCBs on human health aren't fully comprehended. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or biliary tract cancers in humans, but further studies are needed to understand the extent to which this impacts us.

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

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal and can be found in many products, including paints, pipes and food cans. It can be absorbed by the body via two main pathways: the respiratory and oral.

It is a potent chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your surroundings. It is able to accumulate in the body, which could cause serious health issues like cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live close to a creosote-based treatment facility run by Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested assistance from the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's contaminated facility.

Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of been a source of contamination for its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. Residents claim that the railroad has been working to remove the contamination but the proposal submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

The plume of groundwater that flows below the homes in the affected area is among the most serious effects of the contamination. A recent study by the health department shows that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples near the rail yard is more than the level recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is the slow release of creosote from the atmosphere. 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 the fumes are causing cancers to those who breathe them in. To find out more about the effect of the vapors' effects on the lives of residents the neighborhood, a door-to-door survey being conducted in the neighborhood.

This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a very tragic situation that needs to be addressed immediately.

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