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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 done enough to clean the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. The latest tests show that the contamination could still be affecting people who live near.

Researchers believe it could be due to the large number of cancers found in the region. Two years into a state-wide health investigation, they found higher-than-expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical, is used in the treatment of wood. It can cause cancer in people who are exposed to it.

It is a thick, oily substance that is black or amber-colored and has a smoky scent and a burnt flavor. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been in use for more than 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.

It is utilized in the United States to treat railroad tiesand other types of woods like fence posts, utility poles, as well as pilings for marine structures. It is also used to protect log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares that creosote can be a hazardous chemical. In short-term exposure, it can cause skin and eye irritation and chemical burns, stomach pain and burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems.

Exposure for long periods can lead to skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are at risk.

It is considered a probable human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked with a variety of cancers of various types, including esophageal and 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. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, soil, and continues to spread underground.

Railroad Cancer Settlement Amounts  of Houston and Harris County have joined the effort to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to prevent the spread.

In October of 2017 the group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote had contaminated their soil, causing significant health issues as a result of the former rail yard.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering and also compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleaning and other related costs. They also claim to be harmed by environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other types of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemical compounds that don't break down in environment quickly , and can remain in the air, soil or sediment for a long period. They can be found in various sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and incineration of hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin at low levels aren't well-studied however, there is evidence to suggest that they can trigger serious diseases like cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels have been found to have an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune system disorders and endocrine imbalances, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also cause problems with hormones, immune suppression as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.

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

It is vital to remember, however, that exposure to chemicals can have a detrimental effect on your health based on a variety of factors like how much you drink, eat, and the frequency you breathe. It is also crucial to consider your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family traits and other health factors that can influence whether you will be affected by dioxins or not.

Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is an important aspect. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to cause harm impact on human health than others. For instance, polychlorinated benzene (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental impact on your health than creosote.

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

For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a series of cancer deaths that has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, close to their communities. The city's health department announced Friday that it had discovered cancer-causing chemical compounds in surface samples near the rail yard. The release said the results were not encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators wouldn't be sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

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

After being released into the atmosphere, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil throughout the world. They bind tightly to organic matter and tend to remain in the environment for a long time and therefore, are easy to transport and build up in the environment.

In the end, PCBs are a major issue for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. The EPA considers them a potential human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

In addition certain studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly relevant for children who have been exposed to these chemicals during pregnancy.

PCBs are mainly consumed through food. Fish is the main source of exposure since they are the source of the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products, and other agricultural products.

Showering and drinking water is another way to be exposed. This can result from leaks or spills which could occur in electrical and other equipment.

People may also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or skin contact. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as Chloracne. This is small pale, yellow-colored lesions that may last for months or even years.

The effects of PCBs upon human health are not fully understood. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However it is necessary to conduct more research to determine how this impacts us.

The EPA is also studying whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborn babies. A low birth weight has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular disease. Two studies revealed that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or older.

Lead

Lead is a poisonous metal and is present in many products, such as paints, pipes and food cans. The body can absorb it through two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a powerful oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals present in the environment. This can lead to it accumulating in the body , and could lead to serious health problems such as cancer and other diseases.

In Houston, people who live near a legacy creosote treatment plant run by Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has requested the federal government's assistance in cleaning up the railroad's 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, like creosote. The company has been trying to clean up the mess, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough, residents say.

Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is one of the most serious effects of the contamination. A recent study by the department of health shows that the concentration of creosote in soil samples around the rail yard is much higher than the levels recommended for drinking water.

Another issue is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It is causing residents to inhale toxic levels of vapors which could cause death for both children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in people who inhale them. To find out more about the effects of the vapors' effects on the lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being conducted in the neighborhood.

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

A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services found that children in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a type leukemia that was five times higher rate than the average. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.