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 the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. Now, the most recent tests have revealed that the contamination may continue to affect people who live nearby.

Researchers believe it is due to the high rate of cancers in the region. Two years after launching a state-wide health investigation the researchers discovered 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 popular chemical used in the treatment of wood is also a typical one. It is also a poisonous substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.

It is a dense 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 that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties creosote cancer ties as well as other types of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It can also be used to protect log houses and other structures from decay and insect infestation.

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

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

According to the EPA it is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with a variety of different cancer types such as esophageal or lung cancer caused by railroad how to get a settlement cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for years, thanks to an old rail yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil, and it continues to spread throughout the underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the effort to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They are requesting that the company tests regularly for contamination , and take measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

In October of 2017, a group comprised of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote has contaminated their soil and all caused by railroad how to get a settlement serious health issues as a result of the former rail yard.

They are seeking damages from the railroad to help cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they are suffering from environmental racism and discrimination as well as other types of pollution that have adversely affected their families and friends.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that do not break down in the environment quickly and can remain in the air, soil or All Caused By Railroad How To Get A Settlement sediment for a long period. They can be derived from diverse sources, such as natural disasters, industrial accidents cigarette smoke and incineration of hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health aren't clear at low levels, however there is evidence that dioxin may cause cancer as well as other serious illnesses. The people who are exposed to higher levels of dioxin have been found to be at a higher risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune system problems, and endocrine imbalances such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes hair loss, weight loss 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 aren't water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be in the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish and other seafood.

It is important to remember that exposure to dioxins can be detrimental to your health depending on many factors like how much you drink, eat and the frequency you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your age, gender and diet, nutritional status and family characteristics in addition to other health factors that could influence whether you will be affected by dioxins or not.

The type of contaminant also important. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more harmful than others to the health of humans. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative impact on your health than creosote.

PCBs can cause damage to eyes and liver, kidneys and kidneys. They can also affect a person's immune system and interfere with the growth of healthy teeth and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about a cluster of cancer deaths linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is right next to their homes. The city's health department announced Friday that it found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The announcement said the findings were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been employed in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. After being proven to cause cancer and inhibit the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water across the world. They are powerful binders of organic matter, and are easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.

Therefore, PCBs are a major issue for the protection of public health and the environment. The EPA considers them to be a possible human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in lab animals.

Some studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly the case for children who've been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.

The primary route of exposure to PCBs is through food items. Fish are the primary source of exposure because they contain the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in dairy products, beef and other agricultural products.

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

Additionally, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or lymphoma caused by railroad how to get a settlement touching the skin. These chemicals can cause the condition known as Chloracne. It is a small pale, yellow-colored lesions that can last for weeks to years.

However the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they may cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However further research is required to determine how this impacts us.

EPA is also studying whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns, like low birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked to insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases 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 poisonous metal and is found in a variety of products, including paints, pipes, and food cans. The body absorbs it through two major routes: oral and respiratory.

It is an extremely chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your environment. It can accumulate in the body, which could cause serious health issues, such as cancer and other diseases.

In Houston, people who live close to a creosote-based treatment facility run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government for an order to the railroad to clean its toxic site.

Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. The company has been working to clean up the mess, but a plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient residents say.

One of the most significant problems that stemmed from the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the area. A recent study by the health department has revealed that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples near the rail yard is more than the levels recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is the slow release of creosote from the atmosphere. As it escapes, it is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which are harmful for children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors could cause cancer in people who breathe them. A door-to-door health survey is being conducted in the neighborhood to discover more about how the vapors impact the lives of residents.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a terribly sad situation that needs to be addressed immediately.

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