The Reasons Why Adding A Railroad Workers To Your Life Can Make All The Difference

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 remove creosote-laden creosote plume that was at its contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have demonstrated that contamination could still be in the vicinity of residents.

Researchers believe it's due to the large number of cancers found in the region. Two years into a health inspection by the state the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical used to treat wood is also a very common one. It is also a toxic substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance that ranges from amber to black in color. It has a smokey smell and a bitter taste. It is a coal tar distillation product and has been in use for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

It is used in the United States to treat railroad ties, and other types woods, such as fence posts, utility poles, as well as pilings from marine construction. It can also be employed to protect log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares that creosote could be a dangerous chemical. Exposure to it for short periods can cause skin and eye irritation and chemical burns stomach discomfort and burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems.

Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum tumors. 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 various cancers which include esophageal, as well as lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, because of a former railroad yard close to their homes. They claim the chemical has affected their homes and soil, and it continues to spread throughout the underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test regularly for contamination and take measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes and causing significant health issues.

They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering and also damages from railroads for the cost of cleanup and other costs. They claim that they have suffered the effects of environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other forms of pollution that affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that do not break down quickly in the environment and can remain in the soil, air, water or sediment for an extended duration. They can be found in many sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and the incineration process of hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels are not identified but there is evidence that they can trigger serious illnesses like cancer. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked to an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease as well as immune-related issues and endocrine problems, like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a depressed 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 frequent way that people are exposed is through food and water. They are not volatile or water-soluble, which means they are more easily absorbable by the body via the intake of meat, dairy products fish, and other seafood.

However, it is important to be aware that the amount of exposure that has adverse effects on your health is dependent on many factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, how often you drink or eat and the amount of air you breathe. You should also consider your gender and age, nutritional status, and family traits to determine if your family will be exposed to dioxins.

Additionally, the type of contaminant is also an important aspect. According to the EPA the EPA, certain toxins are more dangerous than others for human health. For example, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative impact on your health than creosote.

PCBs can cause damage to eyes and kidneys, liver, and kidneys. They can also harm the immune system of a person, and affect the development of healthy bones and teeth.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years of cluster of cancer deaths caused by the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is right next to their homes. The city's health department announced Friday that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The release stated that the findings were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and also said that a plan that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators wouldn't be adequate 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 both consumer and industrial products. After being proven to cause cancer and weaken the immune system the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil throughout the world.  Railroad Injury Settlement Amounts  are strong binding agents of organic matter that can be easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

Therefore, PCBs constitute a major risk 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.

Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially true for children exposed to PCBs in the womb.

PCBs are most commonly consumed through food. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. But, 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 can be caused by leaks or spills from electrical or other equipment.

Additionally, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through their skin. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as Chloracne. It is a small pale, yellow-colored lesions that may last for weeks or even years.

However the effects of PCBs on the human body are not fully comprehended.  Cancer Lawsuits  have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However there is  Cancer Lawsuit  needed to understand how this affects us.

The EPA is also studying whether these chemicals might cause birth defects in newborns. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. 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 highly toxic metal that can be found in many products including paints, pipes, and food cans. The body can absorb it via two routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a strong antioxidant and can react with other chemicals in the surrounding. This could cause it to build up within the body. This can lead to serious health problems like cancer, among other ailments.

In Houston, people who live near a legacy creosote treatment plant owned by Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has requested assistance from the federal government in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated site.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having its rail yard contaminated in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, such as creosote. The railroad has been trying to clean up the mess, but a plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient, residents say.

One of the biggest issues that resulted from the contamination is the groundwater plume under the homes in the area. A recent study conducted by health officials has shown that soil samples taken from the rail yard have an increased amount of creosote than that recommended for drinking water.

Another issue is that the creosote vapor is slowly escaping into the air. As it is, it is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors that can be dangerous for children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in people who breathe them. To find out more about the impact of the vapors on lives of residents the neighborhood, a door-to-door survey being done in the neighborhood.

This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a very sad situation that must be addressed immediately.

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