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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn't taken the necessary steps to clean up an underground plume contaminated rail yard. Recent tests have revealed that contamination could still be affecting residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it's due to the high rate of cancers in the region. Two years after launching an investigation across the state on health, 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 is a chemical commonly used to treat wood. It is also a poisonous substance that 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 scent and a burnt taste.  Railroad Cancer Settlements  is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 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 is also used for protecting log homes and other structures against decay and insect infestation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote is a potentially dangerous chemical. Short-term exposure can cause eye and skin irritation, chemical burns, stomach discomfort burning of the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver problems.

Long-term exposure can lead to skin and scrotum carcinomas. This is a major concern for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

It is thought to be a probable human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked with a variety of different types of cancer including esophageal and lung cancer.

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

The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the initiative to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They would like the company to test regularly for contamination , and take steps to stop the spread of the disease.

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

They are seeking compensation from the railroad in order to cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim that they have been harmed by environmental racism and discrimination, in addition to other forms of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that do not break down quickly in the environment, and they can remain in the air, water, soil or sediment for an extended duration. They can be derived from a variety of sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents cigarette smoke and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels aren't well-studied, there is evidence that they could cause serious illnesses such as cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels have been found to be at a higher risk of heart disease, organ cancers as well as immune system issues and endocrine changes such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a weakened immune system, menstrual issues and diabetes, weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts, known as chloracne.

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

It is vital to remember, however, that exposure to chemicals can affect your health, depending on many aspects, such as the amount you drink, eat, and the frequency you breathe. It is also crucial to consider your age, gender as well as your diet, nutritional status and family traits, as well as other health factors that could affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.

In addition, the type of contaminant is also an important aspect. According to the EPA the EPA, certain toxins are more harmful than others for the health of humans. For example, polychlorinated biphenyls (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 affect the immune system of the person and interfere with the growth of healthy bones and teeth.

Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Settlements  and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years of cluster of cancer deaths that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is next to their homes. The announcement made by the city's health department revealed that they found cancer-causing chemicals on samples of the surface near the rail yard. The release said that the results were "not encouraging." FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan proposed by Texas environmental regulators will not suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in industrial and consumer products. PCBs were banned in 1979, after being proven to cause cancer, suppress the immune system, and impair learning.

PCBs can cause contamination of soil and water as well as air in many areas of the world after they are released into the environment. They are strong binders for organic matter and can be transported easily and accumulated in the environment.

As a result, PCBs are a major concern for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. They are considered a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been shown to cause cancer in lab animals.

Certain studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children exposed to PCBs in the womb.

PCBs are most commonly ingested through food. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. But, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Another way to get exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that is polluted with PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills that occur in electrical and other equipment.

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

The effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely recognized. 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 has also been investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, such as less weight at birth. A low birth weight has been linked to insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. Two studies showed that children with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights or a later age.

Lead

Lead is a highly toxic metal that can be found in many products like paints, pipes and food cans. The body absorbs it through two routes: respiratory and oral.

It is a powerful oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals found in the environment. This can cause it to accumulate within the body. This can cause serious health issues like cancer, among other illnesses.

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 asked the federal government to order the railroad to clean up its contaminated 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, such as creosote. The railroad has been trying to eliminate the contamination, but a plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough residents say.

The plume of groundwater that flows below the homes in the affected area is one of the most dangerous consequences of the contamination. A recent study by the health department has revealed that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples near the rail yard is higher than the level recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is the slow release of creosote from the atmosphere. It is causing residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors which can be fatal for both children and adults.

It is also possible that the fumes are causing cancers to the residents who are breathing the vapors. To learn more about the impact of the vapors on 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. It's a pity and needs to be dealt with immediately.

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