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 creosote-laden creosote plume that was at its rail yard that is contaminated. The most recent tests have shown that contamination is still affecting residents living nearby.
Researchers believe it is due to the high incidence of cancers in the area. Two years into a state health investigation, they found higher-than-expected rates of childhood leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is a popular chemical used for the treatment of wood, is also a common one. It is also a cause of cancer in people exposed to it.
It is a thick oily substance which is amber or black in color and has a smoky smell and a burnt flavor. It is a distillation of coal product and has been used for over 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.
It is used in the United States to treat railroad tieways, as well as other kinds of woods, such as fence posts and utility poles, and marine pilings. It is also employed to protect log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote is a potentially dangerous chemical. The exposure to creosote over short periods can cause irritation to the eyes and skin, chemical burns stomach pains, burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.
Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a serious issue for those who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.
According to the EPA the EPA, it is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a variety kinds of cancers, including esophageal and lung cancer.
Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for a long time, thanks to an old rail yard close to their homes. They claim the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated and continues to spread throughout the underground.
The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to prevent the spread.
In October of 2017, a group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating soil beneath their homes and causing significant health issues.
They are seeking compensation from the railroad to help cover the costs of cleaning up and other related costs. They claim to have been harmed by environmental racism, discrimination, and other kinds of pollution that have affected their families as well as them.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemicals that do not degrade quickly in the environment, and can remain in the soil, air, or in sediment for a long duration. They can be found in many sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.
Although the health effects of dioxin at low levels aren't known yet, there is evidence suggesting that they can trigger serious illnesses like cancer. The people who are exposed to higher levels have been found to be at risk of organ cancers, heart disease as well as immune system issues and endocrine changes, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to hormonal issues, suppressed immunity and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most popular way people are exposed to the toxins is through water and food. They aren't volatile nor water-soluble, so they are easily absorbed by the body through the intake of dairy products, meat, fish, and other seafood.
It is important to remember, however, that exposure to chemicals can be detrimental to your health based on a variety of factors like how much you eat, drink, and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your age, gender and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics along with other factors in your health that could affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.
The type of contaminant is also important. According to the EPA, some toxins are more harmful than others to human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, are more likely than creosote cause harm to your health.
PCBs can cause damage to eyes and kidneys, liver, and kidneys. They also can harm a person's immune system and affect the development of healthy bones and teeth.
For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a cluster of cancer-related deaths which has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, close to their homes. The announcement released on Friday by Houston's health department said that it had identified cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples near the rail yard. The release noted that the results 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 won't be sufficient.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in industrial and consumer products. After being found to cause cancer and suppress the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.
PCBs can be harmful to soil, water, and air in a variety of regions of the world after they are released into the environment. They are strong binders for organic matter, and are easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.
PCBs are a major concern to protect the environment and public health. The EPA is adamant that they are a human carcinogen , and has demonstrated that they can cause cancer in lab animals.
Additionally certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.
PCBs are most commonly ingested through food items. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. But, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.
Another way to get exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. This can be caused by leaks or spillages in electrical or other equipment.
Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through the skin. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as chloracne which is small, pale yellow skin lesions which 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 biliary tract cancer in humans, but more research is needed to find out how this impacts us.
EPA is also studying whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, including lower birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns is associated with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases 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 highly toxic metal that is present in a variety of products, such as paints, pipes, and food cans. Railroad Cancer Settlement Amounts can be absorbed by the body through two main routes: respiratory and oral.
It is a powerful chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other substances in your environment. Csx Lawsuit Settlements can build up in the body, which can cause serious health issues, such as cancer and other ailments.
In Houston residents living near a creosote treatment plant run by Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Settlements has asked the federal government for an order to the railroad to clean up its toxic site.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contaminating its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic for humans, such as creosote. Residents say that the company has been working to eliminate the contamination, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.
The plume of groundwater that flows below the homes in the affected area is one of the most serious effects of the contamination. A recent study conducted by health officials has found that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain an increased amount of creosote than is recommended for drinking water.
Another issue is the gradual release of creosote into the atmosphere. It is causing residents to inhale toxic levels of vapors which can cause fatalities for both children and adults.
It is also possible that the vapors are causing cancers in the people who breathe them in. A door-to-door health survey is currently being conducted in the neighborhood to find out more about how the vapors impact the residents' lives.
This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It's a pity and needs to be dealt with immediately.
A Department of State Health Services study found that the rate of leukemia was five times higher for children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than was anticipated. The study also found that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.