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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 the creosote sludge that is buried at its rail yard that is contaminated. And now, the latest tests show the contamination could continue to affect people who live nearby.

Researchers suggest it could be linked to the increased cancer rates in the region. Two years into a state-wide health investigation they discovered higher than expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote which is a common chemical that is used to treat wood is also a very common one. It is also a cause of cancer in people who are exposed to it.

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

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 safeguard log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says creosote is an extremely hazardous chemical. In short-term exposure, it can cause irritation to the skin and eyes and chemical burns, stomach discomfort, burning of the mouth or throat, and kidney or liver issues.

Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment and 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 which include esophageal, as well as lung cancer.

Houston’s Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote due to a railroad yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has contaminated their homes, soil and is spreading underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined forces to fight Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.

In October of 2017, a group comprised of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote had contaminated their soil and scleroderma caused by railroad how to get a settlement significant health problems from the former rail yard.

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

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances which do not break down quickly in the environment, and can remain in the soil, air, or sediment for an extended time. They are found in a variety of locations such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration as well as hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin are not known at low levels, but there is evidence that dioxin can cause cancer and other serious diseases. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked to increased risk for organ cancers, heart disease, immune problems, and endocrine issues such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues as well as hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most common way that people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking water or food. They aren’t volatile and water-soluble, therefore they are more easily absorbed by the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products such as fish, as well as other seafood.

It is crucial to keep in mind that exposure to dioxins could cause harm to your health, based on numerous factors such as how much you drink, eat, and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also important to consider your age, gender, diet, nutritional status and family characteristics along with other health factors that may determine whether you’ll be affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant is also crucial. According to the EPA, some toxins are more harmful than others to human health. For example, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental impact on your health than creosote.

PCBs can cause damage to eyes as well as the liver, kidneys and kidneys. They can also harm the immune system of a person, 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 cancers that have been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is situated close to their homes. The announcement made by the city’s health department claimed that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in surfaces near the rail settlement plan yard. The release said the results weren’t encouraging. FOX 26’s Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan proposed by Texas environmental regulators won’t suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in industrial and household products for over 60 years. After they were proven to cause railway cancer concession form and to suppress the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil throughout the world. They are powerful binders of organic matter and can be easily transported and accumulated into the environment.

PCBs are a significant concern for protecting the environment as well as public health. They are considered a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been shown to cause cancer in lab animals.

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

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

Showering or drinking PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This can be cll caused by railroad how to get a settlement by leaks or spills from electrical or other equipment.

People may also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or skin contact. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as chloracne which is a mild, small skin lesions that can last from weeks to years.

However, the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet fully known. Researchers have suggested that they may cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However there is more research needed to better understand how this impacts us.

EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, such as less weight at birth. A low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. In two studies, children who were born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower body weight at birth, and/or later in childhood.

Lead

Lead is a toxic metal and is found in a wide range of products, including paints, pipes and food cans. It can be absorbed by the body through two main pathways: oral and claim respiratory.

It is an extremely oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals in the environment. It can accumulate within the body and can cause serious health issues like cancer and other ailments.

In Houston, people who live near a creosote legacy treatment plant run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to order the railroad to remove its contaminated site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of affected its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The railroad has been trying to clean up the mess, but a plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient residents say.

One of the biggest problems that stemmed due to the contamination is the groundwater plume under the homes in the region. A recent study by health officials has shown that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain a higher concentration of creosote than the recommended amount for drinking water.

Another issue is that the creosote vapor is slowly escaping into the air. It causes residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors that are dangerous for children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer for those who breathe them. A door-to-door health survey is being conducted in the neighborhood to understand how the vapors affect the lives of the residents.

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

A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services discovered that children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a type of leukemia caused by railroad how to get a settlement at five times higher rate than expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhood than they were elsewhere in Texas.