Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn’t taken the necessary steps to clean up an underground plume that is contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have demonstrated that contamination could still be in the vicinity of residents.
Researchers believe that it could be due to the high number of cancers in the region. Two years into a health study conducted by the state, they found higher-than-expected rates of childhood leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is one of the most common chemicals employed in the treatment of wood. It can cause cancer in those exposed to it.
It is a heavy oily substance that ranges from amber to black in color. It has a smoky smell and a bitter taste. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for over 150 years to preserve wood.
In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other types of wood including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It can also be used for protecting log homes and other structures against insects and rot.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is potentially dangerous chemical. Exposure to creosote for short periods can cause irritation to the eyes and skin chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of the mouth or throat, kidney or liver problems and even permanent damage.
Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a serious concern for workers who have direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.
According to the EPA It is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a range of different types of cancer, including esophageal and lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote due to a railroad yard near their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated and continues to spread underground.
The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They are requesting that the company tests regularly for contamination , and take steps to stop the spread of the disease.
In October 2017, a group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued 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 damages from the railroad to cover the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They claim to have been harmed by environmental racism, discrimination, and other types of pollution that has affected them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are a class of chemicals that do not break down in the environment quickly and can remain in the air, the soil of the water or in sediment for a long time. They are found in many places in natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration as well as hazardous waste.
The health effects of dioxin are not clear at low levels, but there is evidence that dioxin can trigger cancer and other serious diseases. People who are exposed to higher levels of dioxin are found to have an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system disorders and endocrine imbalances such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues, hair loss, weight loss and facial cysts known as chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most frequent way that people are exposed dioxin is through food or drinking water. They aren't water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be absorbed into the body through the consumption of dairy products, fish and other seafood.
However, it is important to remember that the amount of exposure that can have detrimental effects on your health is dependent on various factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you drink or eat and how much air you breathe. You should also consider your gender and age, your diet, and family characteristics to determine if you will be exposed to dioxins.
The kind of contaminant is crucial. According to the EPA the EPA, certain toxins are more harmful than others for human health. For example, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative effect on your health than creosote.
PCBs can cause damage to the eyes, liver, kidneys, and kidneys. They can also harm the immune system and cause problems with the development of healthy teeth, bones and bones.
For years, residents in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a rash of cancer-related deaths that has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, close to their communities. The city's health department announced on Friday that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The announcement said that the findings were not encouraging. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. After they were proven to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.
After being released into the atmosphere, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water across the world. They bind tightly to organic matter and tend to remain in the environment for a long time that means they are easy to transport and build up in the environment.
As a result, PCBs are a major issue for the protection of public health and the environment. The EPA considers them a potential carcinogen for humans and has proven that they can cause cancer in lab animals.
Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children exposed to these chemicals in the womb.
PCBs are mainly consumed through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products and other agricultural products.
Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This can result from spills or leaks that may be caused by electrical or other equipment.
Additionally, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or through skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is a mild, small yellow skin lesions which can last for weeks or even years.
The effects of PCBs upon the health of humans aren't completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However further research is required to understand how this impacts us.
EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, such as lower birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular diseases. In two studies, children 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 that is found in a variety of products, including paints, pipes and food containers. Railroad Cancer Lawsuit absorbs it via two routes: the respiratory and oral.
It is an extremely antioxidant that can react with other chemicals present in the environment. It can build up within the body, which could lead to serious health issues like cancer and other ailments.
In Houston the residents who live near a creosote legacy treatment facility owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's assistance in cleaning up the railroad's contaminated site.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contaminating its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals for humans, such as creosote. Residents claim that the railroad has been working to clean up contamination but the plan that was submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.
One of the biggest problems that stemmed from the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the region. A recent study conducted by health officials has shown that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain more creosote than is recommended for drinking water.
Another issue is the gradual release of creosote into the atmosphere. It causes residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which can cause fatalities for children as well as adults.
It is possible that the vapors could cause cancer for those who breathe them. To find out more about the effects of the vapors in the lives of residents the neighborhood, a door-to-door survey being conducted in the neighborhood.
This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It's a sad state of affairs and it should be dealt with 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 a five times higher rate than the average. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in these neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.