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 clean up the creosote sludge that is buried at its contaminated rail yard. The latest tests show the contamination could continue to affect people who live near.
Researchers believe it could be related to elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years after the launch of an all-state health investigation the researchers discovered that there were higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the vicinity of the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is a common chemical used in the treatment of wood. It is also a harmful substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.
It is a thick oily substance, amber to black in color. It has a smoky smell and a burnt taste. It is a coal-tar distillation 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 types of wood, including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It can also be used to protect log homes and other structures against the effects of rot and insect invasion.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that creosote may be an extremely hazardous chemical. Short-term exposure can cause eye and skin irritation as well as chemical burns, stomach pain and burning of the mouth or throat, and kidney or liver problems.
Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a significant concern for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.
It is regarded as a possible human carcinogen, according to the EPA. It has been linked to various cancers, including 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 say the chemical has affected their homes and soil, and it continues to spread underground.
The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test regularly for contamination , and take measures 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 emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes and is causing serious health problems.
They are seeking compensation from the railroad in order to cover the costs of cleaning up and other related costs. They claim that they have suffered the effects of environmental racism and discrimination as well as other kinds of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.
Dioxin
Dioxins are a class of chemicals that don't break down in environment quickly and can remain in the air, soil or sediment for a long period. They can be derived from diverse sources, including natural disasters, industrial accidents smoking cigarettes, and incineration of hazardous waste.
Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't yet known, there is evidence that they can cause serious illnesses such as cancer. People who are exposed to higher levels are believed to have an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system problems and endocrine imbalances, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal issues, suppressed immunity womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most frequent way that people are exposed is through water and food. They are not volatile and water-soluble so they are more easily to be absorbed by the body through the intake of dairy products, meat as well as fish and other seafood.
It is vital to remember that exposure to chemicals can affect your health, depending on many aspects, such as the amount you drink, eat and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also important to take into consideration your age, gender and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics in addition to other health factors that can affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.
The kind of contaminant is crucial. According to the EPA certain toxins are more dangerous than others for the health of humans. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to negatively impact your health.
For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys, and liver. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements can also damage a person's immune system and interfere with the development of healthy teeth and bones.
Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster of cancer deaths that are that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is next to their homes. Friday's announcement by the city's health department stated that it found cancer-causing chemicals on surfaces near the rail yard. The release stated that the results weren't encouraging. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposal submitted by Texas environmental regulators will not suffice.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for more than 60 years. After being found to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.
Railroad Injury Settlement Amounts 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, and are easily transported and accumulated into the environment.
This is why PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. The EPA considers them a probable carcinogen for humans and has proven that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially relevant for children who have been exposed to these chemicals while during pregnancy.
The primary route for exposure to PCBs is through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. But, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.
Another way to get exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is contaminated with PCBs. This could be caused by leaks or spills that occur in electrical and other equipment.
Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through their skin. These chemicals can trigger a condition called Chloracne. This is a mild pale, yellow-colored lesions that last for weeks or even years.
The effects of PCBs on human health are not completely 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 impacts us.
The EPA is also studying whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborn babies. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease later in life. 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 is found in many products, including paints, pipes and food containers. The body absorbs it through two routes: oral and respiratory.
It is an extremely antioxidant that can react with other chemicals present in the environment. It can build up in the body, and can lead to serious health issues like cancer and other ailments.
Houston residents who reside near the Union Pacific Railroad's legacy creosote plant are at risk of cancer. The city has asked for the assistance of the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's contamination site.
Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having affected its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. The company has been trying to get rid of the mess, but a plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough residents claim.
One of the biggest issues that resulted due to the contamination is the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the area. A recent study by health officials has found that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain more creosote than that recommended for drinking water.
Another concern is that the creosote vapor is slowly escaping into the air. As it is, it causes residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors that can be toxic for both children and adults.
It is possible that the vapors could cause cancer among those who breathe them. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements -to door health survey is being carried out in the neighborhood to learn more about how the vapors affect the lives of residents.
This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It's a sad state of affairs and must be taken care of immediately.
A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services found that children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a type leukemia at a five-fold more frequently than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhood than they were elsewhere in Texas.