Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for railroad decades that the company hasn't done enough to clean the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. The most recent tests have shown that contamination could still be an issue for residents living nearby.

Researchers suggest it could be related to the elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years after launching an investigation into health issues across the state Researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic cancer in children and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote which is a common chemical used for the treatment of wood is also a very common one. It is also a toxic substance that can cause cancer in those exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance, from 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 over 150 years to preserve wood.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other types of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It can also be used to shield log homes and other structures from rot and infestation.

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

Long-term exposure could lead to skin and scrotum cancers. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are susceptible to cancer.

According to the EPA, it is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a variety kinds of cancers including esophageal and lung railway cancer concession form.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, due to a railroad yard close to their homes. They claim the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They are requesting that the company tests regularly for contamination and to take measures to prevent it from spreading.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote was a source of contamination in their soil and cll caused by railroad how to get a settlement significant health problems as a result of the former rail yard.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering and damages from the railroad ties cancer to cover the cost of cleaning and other related costs. They claim that they have been harmed by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other types of pollution that has affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that do not break down quickly in the environment, and can remain in the soil, air, or sediment for an extended period of. They are found in many places that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes 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 could cause serious illnesses such as cancer. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked with an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune issues, and endocrine issues, including hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger problems with hormones, immune suppression and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most common way people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of dairy products, fish and other seafood.

However, it is crucial to remember that the amount of exposure that can have adverse effects on your health depends on several factors, such as the amount you eat or drink, how often you drink or eat, and how often you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender, age and diet, nutritional status and family traits and other health factors that may determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.

Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is also an important factor. The EPA declares that certain toxins are more likely to have a negative impact on human health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to affect your health.

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

For years, residents in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a series of cancer deaths that have been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is located near their neighborhoods. The announcement released on Friday by Houston's health department revealed that they discovered cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples near the rail yard. The announcement said that the results weren't encouraging. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposed plan by Texas environmental regulators won't suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. They were banned in 1979 after being discovered to cause cancer, inhibit the immune system, and impair learning.

PCBs can cause contamination of soil as well as water and air in many regions of the globe once they are released into the environment. They bind tightly to organic matter, and are often persistent and therefore, are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

PCBs are a major problem for railroad protecting the environment and public health. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been proven to cause cancer in lab animals.

Furthermore certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially relevant for children who are exposed to PCBs in the womb.

PCBs are mainly consumed through food items. Fish are the primary source of exposure since they are the largest source of PCBs. But, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.

Another method of being exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that is affected by PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills that could occur in electrical and other equipment.

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

However the effects of PCBs on the human body are not fully comprehended. Researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However it is necessary to conduct more research to determine how this affects us.

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

Lead

Lead is a highly toxic metal that is present in a variety of products including paints, pipes, and food cans. It is absorbed by the body through two major routes: respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely chemical that can oxidize and react with other chemicals in your environment. This could cause it to build up in the body , and could lead to serious health problems such as cancer and other illnesses.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's legacy creosote plant are at a high risk of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated facility.

The Union Pacific railroad cancer settlement has a history of having its rail yard contaminated in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic to humans, like creosote. Residents claim that the railroad has been trying to get rid of the pollution, but the proposal submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

One of the major problems that stemmed from the contamination is the plume of groundwater that is located beneath homes in the region. A recent study by health officials has revealed that soil samples taken from the rail yard have higher levels of creosote than what is required for drinking water.

Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. As it is, it causes residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors that can be harmful for children as well as adults.

It is also possible that particles are causing cancers among the residents who breathe them in. To find out more about the impact of the vapors on the lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being done in the neighborhood.

This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It is a sad situation and must be dealt with immediately.

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