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 up an underground plume contaminated rail yard. Now, the most recent tests show the contamination could continue to affect people who live nearby.
Researchers believe it is due to the high incidence of cancers in the region. Two years after the launch of an investigation across the state on health and a study by researchers, they found that there were higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the vicinity of the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a common chemical that is used to treat wood is also a typical one. It is also a harmful substance that can cause cancer when exposed to it.
Railroad Cancer Lawyer is a dense oily substance, from amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a burnt taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years as an ingredient in 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 is also used to safeguard log homes and other structures from insect infestation.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is a chemical that could be dangerous. Short-term exposure can cause irritation of the skin and eyes and chemical burns, stomach discomfort and burning in the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems.
Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum carcinomas. 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 possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a variety of cancers that include esophageal aswell as lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, due to a railroad yard right next to their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, 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 frequently for contamination and take steps to stop the spread of the disease.
A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote was a source of contamination in their soil and caused significant health problems from the former rail yard.
They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering and compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they are harmed by environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other forms of pollution that have affected them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are a class of chemicals that aren't able to break down in the environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, the soil of the water or in sediment for a lengthy period. They are found in a variety of locations that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.
Although Railroad Cancer Lawsuit of dioxin on health at low levels aren't known but there is evidence that they can cause serious illnesses like cancer. People who are exposed to higher levels of dioxin are found to have an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune system disorders and endocrine changes including hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues and weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts, known as chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most frequent way that people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not volatile and water-soluble, which means they are more easily to be absorbed by the body through the intake of meat, dairy products fish, and other seafood.
However, it is important to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that could have negative effects on your health is contingent upon various factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you drink or eat and how much you breathe. It is also important to take into account your gender and age, as well as your nutrition and family characteristics to determine if you will be exposed to dioxins.
In addition, the form of contaminant is also an important factor. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to cause harm impact on health than others. Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs are more likely than creosote affect your health.
For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They also can harm the immune system of a person, and hinder the growth of healthy teeth and bones.
For years, residents in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a rash of cancer-related deaths that has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their homes. The city's health department said on Friday that it has found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The release noted that the results weren't encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to sue Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators will not be adequate given the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for more than 60 years. These substances were banned in 1979, after being proven to cause cancer, suppress the immune system, and interfere with learning.
PCBs can contaminate soil and water as well as air in many regions of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are strong binding agents of organic matter that can be easily transported and accumulated into 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 demonstrated to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially applicable to children who have been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.
The primary route of exposure to PCBs is through food items. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.
Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This could be the result of leaks or spills that occur in electrical equipment and other.
In the same way, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through skin. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as Chloracne. This is small, pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that may last for months or even years.
The effects of PCBs upon the health of humans aren't completely recognized. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver and biliary tract cancer in humans, but more research is needed to find out what this means for us.
EPA is also studying whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, such as low birth weight. A low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular disease. Two studies have shown that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or older.
Lead
Lead is a toxic metal that can be found in many items like paints pipes, and food cans. It is absorbed by the body through two main routes: oral and respiratory.
It is a strong chemical that is oxidizing and can react with other chemicals present in your environment. This can cause it to accumulate within the body and lead to serious health problems such as cancer and other ailments.
Houston residents who live near the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote legacy plant have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested assistance from the federal government in the cleanup of the railroad's contamination site.
The Union Pacific Railroad 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 working to eliminate the contamination, but the proposal submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.
One of the biggest problems that stemmed from the contamination is the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. A recent study conducted by health officials has found that soil samples taken from the rail yard have more creosote than that recommended for drinking water.
Another concern is the slow release of creosote to the atmosphere. 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 could cause cancer for those who inhale them. A door-to-door health survey is currently being conducted in the neighborhood to understand how the vapors impact the lives of the residents.
This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a tragic situation and must be taken care of 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-fold more frequently than was expected. Railroad Workers Cancer Lawsuit found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these areas than elsewhere in Texas.