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 up an underground plume that is contaminated rail yard. Recent tests have revealed that contamination is still affecting residents living nearby.
Researchers believe it could be due to the high number of cancers found in the region. Two years into a health study conducted by the state and they found higher than expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers within the communities around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is one of the most common chemicals employed in the treatment of wood. It can cause cancer in people exposed to it.
It is a dense oily substance that's black or amber in color and has a smokey odor and burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal 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 and other kinds of wood including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It is also used for protecting log structures and homes against insects and rot.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote may be a risky chemical. Exposure to it for short periods can cause irritation of the skin and eyes as well as chemical burns, stomach discomfort and burning in the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems.
Long-term exposure may cause 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 various cancers that include esophageal aswell as lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, thanks to a former railroad yard near their homes. They say the chemical has affected their homes and soil, and it continues to spread throughout the underground.
Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and adopt preventative measures to stop the spread.
In October of 2017, a group comprised of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote that was emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes , causing significant health issues.
They are seeking compensation for their illness and suffering and also damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleaning and other costs. They claim they have suffered the effects of environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other kinds of pollution that have affected them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are a class of chemicals that do not degrade quickly in the environment and can remain in the soil, air, water or sediment for an extended period of. They are found in a variety of places that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration as well as hazardous waste.
Although the health effects of dioxin at low levels aren't well-studied, there is evidence that they can trigger serious illnesses like cancer. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked to increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune disorders, and endocrine disorders, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive issues, a weak immune system, diabetes and menstrual issues, hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts, known as chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most prevalent way people are exposed to the toxins is through food and water. Railroad Cancer Lawyer are not volatile or water-soluble, therefore they are more easily taken in by the body through the intake of meat, dairy products such as fish, as well as other seafood.
It is crucial to keep in mind that exposure to dioxins could have a detrimental effect on your health, depending on many factors such as how much you consume, drink, and the frequency with which you breathe. You should also consider your gender and age, your diet, and family traits to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.
The kind of contaminant is equally important. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more dangerous than others to human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs are more likely than creosote affect your health.
PCBs can cause damage to the eyes as well as the liver, kidneys and kidneys. They can also affect the immune system of a person, and interfere with the development of healthy teeth and bones.
For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a rash of cancer deaths that has been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, close to their homes. The city's health department announced Friday that it had found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The release said the results weren't encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan presented to Texas environmental regulators isn't adequate given the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenyls, are harmful chemicals that have been used for more than 60 years in consumer and industrial products. After they were proven to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.
PCBs can contaminate soil or water as well as air in a variety of regions of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are strong binding agents of organic matter, and are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.
This is why PCBs are a major threat for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. Railroad Cancer considers them a probable 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 relevant for children who have been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.
The most common route for exposure to PCBs is through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs, fish is the main source of exposure. However, Railroad Cancer can also found in beef, dairy products and other agricultural products.
Another way to be exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is contaminated with PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills from electrical or other equipment.
Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing air or by touching the skin. These chemicals can trigger a condition called chloracne, which is a mild, small, yellow skin lesions that can last from weeks to years.
However, the effects of PCBs on human health aren't fully recognized. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver and the biliary tract cancers in humans, however more research is needed to find out the extent to which this impacts us.
EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns, including less weight at birth. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease later in life. Two studies revealed that children with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights and/or older.
Lead
Lead is a toxic metal and is present in a variety of products, including paints, pipes and food cans. The body absorbs it through two main routes: respiratory and oral.
It is a powerful chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your surroundings. It can accumulate in the body, which can lead to serious health problems like cancer and other diseases.
Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's creosote-based plant that is its legacy have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked the federal government to instruct the railroad to cleanse its contaminated facility.
Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having been a source of contamination for its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. Residents say that the company has been working to clean up contamination but the proposal submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.
One of the biggest problems that arose from the contamination is the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. A recent study by the health department shows that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples from the rail yard is more than the recommended level for drinking water.
Another major concern is that the creosote is slowly escaping into the air. It can cause residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors, which can cause fatalities for children and adults.
It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in those who breathe them. To find out more about the effects of the vapors' effects on the 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 tragic situation that needs to be addressed immediately.
A Department of State Health Services study discovered that leukemia rates were five times higher among children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than what was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhood than they were elsewhere in Texas.