15 Unexpected Facts About Railroad Workers That You Never Known
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. The latest tests have demonstrated that contamination could still be impacting residents living near.
Researchers believe it could be due to the high incidence of cancers in the area. Two years after the launch of a state-wide health investigation, researchers found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a common chemical, is employed in the treatment of wood. It is also a dangerous substance that can cause cancer when exposed to it.
It is a dense oily substance that's black or amber-colored and has a smoky odor and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 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 is also used for protecting log structures and homes against insects and rot.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote is potentially dangerous chemical. Exposure to creosote for brief periods may cause irritation to the eyes and skin and chemical burns, stomach pains, burning in the throat or mouth as well as liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.
Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. lymphoma caused by railroad how to get a settlement who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are susceptible to cancer.
According to the EPA, it is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with a variety of different types of cancer including esophageal and lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, because of a former railroad yard near their homes. The chemical is said to have contaminated 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 want the company to test regularly for contamination and to take measures to stop it from spreading.
In October of 2017 a group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote was a source of contamination in their soil, causing significant health issues from the former rail yard.
They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering, as well as damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they are suffering from environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other kinds of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemicals which aren't able to break down in the environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, the soil of the water or in sediment for a long time. They are found in a variety of places that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes, and incineration or hazardous waste.
Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels are not identified but there is evidence that they can trigger serious illnesses like cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels have been found to be at a higher risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system disorders and endocrine disorders like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause problems with hormones, immune suppression as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most common way that people are exposed dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not volatile or water-soluble, therefore they are more easily absorbable by the body via the intake of dairy products, meat fish, and other seafood.
However, it is important to remember that the amount of exposure that can have negative effects on your health is dependent on numerous factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you drink or eat, and the amount of air you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender, age, diet, nutritional status and family characteristics along with other health factors that may affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.
The type of contaminant also important. According to the EPA, some toxins are more harmful than others for the health of humans. Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs are more likely than creosote to negatively impact your health.
PCBs can cause damage to the eyes as well as the liver, kidneys and kidneys. They also can harm the immune system and cause issues in the development of healthy teeth, bones and bones.
For a long time, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a string of cancer deaths that has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their communities. The city's health department announced on Friday that it has found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The release stated that the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators won't be adequate in light of the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in consumer and industrial products. They were banned in 1979 following being found to cause cancer, inhibit the immune system, and impair learning.
Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil throughout the world. They are strong binders for organic matter that can be easily transported and accumulated in the environment.
PCBs are a significant concern for protecting the environment and public health. The EPA considers them a potential 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 true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals while during the pregnancy.
PCBs are most commonly consumed through food items. Fish is the primary source of exposure because they are the largest source of PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products, and other agricultural products.
Another method of being exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that has been contaminated with PCBs. This can be caused by leaks or spills which could occur in electrical and other equipment.
Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or through their skin. These chemicals can trigger a condition called chloracne, which is a tiny, pale, yellow skin lesions that can be present for a period of weeks or years.
However, the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However, more research is needed to understand how this impacts us.
EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, such as low birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular diseases. In two studies, children who were 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 found in a variety of items including paints, pipes and food containers. The body absorbs it through two routes: oral and respiratory.
It is an extremely antioxidant and can react with other chemicals found in the environment. It can accumulate within the body and could cause serious health issues, such as cancer and other ailments.
In Houston residents living close to a creosote-based treatment facility owned by Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked for the assistance of the federal government in the cleanup of the railroad's contamination site.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having its rail yard contaminated in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, like creosote. The company has been working to remove the contamination, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient residents claim.
One of the major problems that arose due to the contamination is the groundwater plume under the homes in the region. A recent study by the health department shows that the concentration of creosote present in soil samples around the rail yard is higher than the levels recommended for drinking water.
Another concern is that creosote is slowly disappearing into the air. It is causing residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors which can cause fatalities for children and adults.
It is possible that the vapors cause cancer for those who breathe them. To find out more about the effects of the vapors on the lives of residents the neighborhood, a door-to-door survey being done in the neighborhood.
This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a very sad situation that must 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 areas than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.