Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn’t taken the necessary steps to clean up an underground plume contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have shown that the contamination could be impacting residents living near.
Researchers believe it could be due to the high incidence of cancers that are found in the area. Two years into a state health investigation they discovered higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is a popular chemical that is used to treat wood is also a typical one. It can cause cancer in people exposed to it.
It is a heavy oily substance that's black or amber in color and has a smoky scent and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years to preserve wood.
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 can also be used to protect log structures and homes against decay and insect infestation.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) creosote can be a potentially dangerous chemical. Exposure to it for short periods can cause eye and skin irritation and chemical burns, stomach discomfort and burning in the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver problems.
Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are at risk.
According to the EPA, it is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to various cancers, including esophageal as well lung cancer.
Railroad Cancer Lawyer of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades due to an old rail yard close to their homes. They say the chemical has affected their homes and soil and 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 regularly for contamination , and take measures to stop it from spreading.
A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil under their homes and causing serious health problems.
Railroad Cancer are seeking compensation from the railroad to help cover the costs of cleaning up and other related costs. They also claim to be affected by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that have impacted them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemical compounds that don't break down quickly in the environment and they can stay in the soil, air, water or sediment for an extended time. They can be found in a variety of places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.
Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels are not identified but there is evidence that they can cause serious illnesses like cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels of dioxin have been found to be at greater risk of heart disease, organ cancers immune system problems, and endocrine imbalances like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a weakened immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues as well as hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts called chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most common method that people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish and other seafood.
However, it is crucial to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that could have a harmful effect on your health is dependent on many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you consume alcohol or food, and how much 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.
Furthermore, the kind of contaminant can be an important aspect. According to the EPA, some toxins are more dangerous than others for the health of humans. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs are more likely than creosote to affect your health.
For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They can also harm the immune system of the person and affect the development of healthy bones and teeth.
Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about a cluster cancer deaths caused by the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is located next to their homes. The city's health department reported on Friday that it found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The release stated that the findings were not encouraging. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs, also known as polychlorinated Biphenyls, are noxious chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in industrial and consumer products. After being found to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.
When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water across the world. They are strong binding agents of organic matter and can be easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.
This is why PCBs are a major concern 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 laboratory animals.
Certain studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially true for children exposed to these chemicals while pregnant.
PCBs are mainly consumed through food. Fish are the primary source of exposure, as they are the largest source of PCBs. However, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.
Another method of being exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that is infected with PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills that can occur in electrical and other equipment.
Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or through the skin. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as Chloracne. This is small pale, yellow-colored lesions that last for weeks to years.
However Railroad Cancer Lawsuit of PCBs on human health are not yet fully understood. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver or the biliary tract cancers among humans, but further studies are needed to determine how this affects us.
The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and later-life cardiovascular disease. 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 toxic metal and can be found in a wide range of products, including pipes, paints and food cans. The body can absorb it through two routes: oral and respiratory.
It is a strong chemical that can oxidize and react with other chemicals in your surroundings. It is able to accumulate within the body, which can lead to serious health issues such as cancer and other illnesses.
In Houston residents living near a creosote treatment plant owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to order the railroad to clean its toxic site.
Cancer Lawsuit Settlements has a past history of been a source of contamination for its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The company has tried to get rid of 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 among the most grave consequences of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has revealed that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain a higher concentration of creosote than is recommended for drinking water.
Another issue is the slow release of creosote into the atmosphere. It causes residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors which can cause fatalities for both children as well as adults.
It is also possible that the vapors are causing cancers in the residents who are breathing the vapors in. A door-to door health survey is being conducted in the area to understand how the vapors impact the residents' lives.
This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It's a pity and needs to be dealt with 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 type leukemia that was five times higher rate than expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more frequent in the neighborhood than they were elsewhere in Texas.