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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. Now, the most recent tests suggest that the contamination could continue to affect people who live near.

Researchers suggest it could be due to higher cancer rates in the region. Two years into a state-wide health investigation, they found higher-than-expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a popular chemical that is used to treat wood, is also a common one. It is also a cause of cancer in those exposed to it.

It is a thick, oily substance that is black or amber in appearance and has a smoky smell and burnt 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 as well as other kinds of wood, including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It can also be employed to protect log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is a chemical that could be dangerous. When exposed to creosote, even for short periods of time can cause skin and eye irritation chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.

railroad cancer lawyer -term exposure could lead to skin and scrotum carcinomas. This is a serious issue for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

According to the EPA It is a known human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a range kinds of cancers such as esophageal or lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, due to a former railroad yard that was close to their homes. The chemical is said to have contaminated their homes and soil 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 regularly and take preventative measures to stop the spread.

In October 2017 the group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They allege that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes , causing significant health problems.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering, as well as compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleaning and other related costs. They claim that they have been harmed by racism in the environment and discrimination as well as other kinds of pollution that have affected their families as well as them.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that don't break down quickly in the environment, and they can remain in the air, water, soil or sediment for a lengthy period of time. They can come from many sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and the incineration process of hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels aren't yet known but there is evidence that they could cause serious illnesses , such as cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels of dioxin have been found to have an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system problems and endocrine imbalances including hormonal imbalances. They can also cause hormonal problems, suppressed immunity and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most popular way people are exposed to the toxins is through water and food. They aren't volatile and water-soluble so they are more easily absorbable by the body via the consumption of dairy products, meat as well as fish and other seafood.

However, it is crucial to be aware that the amount of exposure that has a harmful effect on your health is dependent on numerous factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you drink or eat, and how much you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your age, gender, diet, nutritional status and family characteristics along with other health factors that can determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.

In addition, the form of contaminant can be an important aspect. According to the EPA, some toxins are more harmful than others to human health. For instance, polychlorinated benzene (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative effect on your health than creosote.

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, residents in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a string of cancer deaths that has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is located near their homes. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department stated that it discovered cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples near the rail yard. The announcement said that the results were not encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's going to sue Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan submitted to Texas environmental regulators will not be adequate given the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. These chemicals were banned in 1979 following being discovered to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and impair learning.

PCBs can cause contamination of soil, water, and air in many areas of the world once they are released into the environment. 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.

Therefore, PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of public health and the environment. The EPA considers them a potential human carcinogen , and has demonstrated that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

In addition certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly relevant for children who have been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.

PCBs are most commonly consumed through food items. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs, fish is the main source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.

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

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

However, the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet fully known. Some researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary tract cancers in humans, however more studies are needed to determine what this means for us.

EPA has also been examining whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, such as lower birth weight. A low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular disease. Two studies found that children with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or an earlier age.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal that is found in a variety of products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. The body can absorb it through two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a strong antioxidant that can react with other chemicals in the surrounding. This can lead to its accumulation in the body and can cause serious health issues like cancer and other ailments.

Houston residents who live near to the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote-based plant that is its legacy are at a high risk of cancer. The city has requested the federal government for an order to the railroad to clean up its toxic site.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contamination of its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic to humans, including creosote. Residents say that the company has been working to get rid of the pollution, but the plan that was submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.

One of the most important issues that resulted from the contamination was the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. A recent study conducted by the health department has shown that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples from the rail yard is much higher than the recommended levels for drinking water.

Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote vapor is slowly escaping into the air. It is causing residents to inhale dangerous levels of vapors, which can cause fatalities for both children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in those who breathe them. A door-to door health survey is being conducted in the neighborhood to discover more about how the vapors impact the residents' lives.

This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a very sad situation that must be addressed as soon as possible.

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