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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 rail yard that is contaminated. Recent tests have revealed that the contamination could be in the vicinity of residents.
Researchers believe it's due to the high rate of cancers found in the region. Two years after the launch of a state-wide health investigation and a study by researchers, they found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a common chemical, is that is used in the treatment of wood. It is also a dangerous substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.
It is a thick oily substance, from amber to black in color. It has a smokey smell and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.
In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other types of wood including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It is also used for protecting log structures and homes from the effects of rot and insect invasion.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote, according to the EPA, is an extremely dangerous chemical. Exposure to it for short periods can cause irritation to the skin and eyes as well as chemical burns, stomach pain burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems.
Long-term exposure can lead to skin and scrotum carcinomas. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.
It is believed to be a human carcinogen, as per the EPA. Cancer Lawsuit Settlements has been linked to a range of cancers of various types, including esophageal and lung cancer.
Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote over the years, thanks to the former rail yard that was located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil, and it continues to spread underground.
The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination regularly and take preventative measures to prevent the spread.
A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They allege that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating soil beneath their homes and causing serious health problems.
They are seeking damages from the railroad to cover the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They also claim to be suffering from environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other types of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemicals which don't break down in the environment quickly , and can remain in the air, the soil of the water or in sediment for a long time. They can come from many sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and incineration of hazardous waste.
The effects of dioxin on health aren't clear at low levels, however there is evidence that dioxin can cause cancer and other serious diseases. Dioxin levels that are higher are linked to a higher risk for heart disease, organ cancers, immune problems, and endocrine problems, like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a weakened immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes, hair growth, weight loss and facial cysts known as chloracne.
According to Railroad Cancer Lawyer . Environmental Protection Agency the most common method that people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking water or food. They aren't volatile and water-soluble so they are more easily absorbed by the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.
But it is important to remember that the level of exposure that will have detrimental effects on your health depends on many factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, how often you eat or drink and the amount of air you breathe. It is also important to take into consideration your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics and other health factors that can determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.
The kind of contaminant used is crucial. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more dangerous than others to the health of humans. For instance, polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental impact on your health than creosote.
PCBs can cause damage to the eyes, liver, kidneys, and kidneys. They can also affect the immune system and cause problems with the development of healthy bones, teeth, and bones.
For years, residents in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a rash of cancer deaths that has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their communities. Cancer Lawsuit Settlements released on Friday by Houston's health department stated that it discovered cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples near the rail yard. The announcement said that the results were not a good sign. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan submitted to Texas environmental regulators isn't adequate in light of the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been used for more than 60 years in consumer and industrial products. PCBs were banned in 1979, after they were found to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and impair learning.
After being released into the atmosphere, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water in a variety of areas around the world. They bind strongly to organic matter and are often persistent and therefore, are easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.
As a result, PCBs are a major concern for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been shown to 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.
PCBs are mainly consumed through food. Fish is the main source of exposure since they contain the highest amount of PCBs. However, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.
Another way to be exposed PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is polluted with PCBs. This could be the result of leaks or spills in electrical and other equipment.
In the same way, people can be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or through the skin. These chemicals can cause a condition called chloracne, which is small, pale yellow skin lesions which can last for weeks or even years.
The effects of PCBs on human health are still not fully recognized. Researchers have suggested that they could cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However it is necessary to conduct more research to understand how this impacts us.
The EPA is also studying whether these chemicals might cause birth defects in newborn babies. Low birth weight has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular diseases. 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, such as pipes, paints and food cans. It is absorbed by the body through two main routes: respiratory and oral.
It is an extremely chemical that can oxidize and react with other chemicals in your environment. This could cause it to build up in the body and can cause serious health issues like cancer, among other illnesses.
In Houston, people who live near a legacy creosote treatment plant owned by Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has requested the federal government for an order to the railroad to clean its toxic site.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contaminating its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, like creosote. Residents claim that the company has been trying to clean up contamination but the plan submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.
One of the biggest problems that resulted from the contamination was the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. A recent study by the department of health shows that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples from the rail yard is greater than the level recommended for drinking water.
Another concern is the slow evaporation of creosote from the atmosphere. Railroad Cancer 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 gases are causing cancers in the people who breathe them in. To find out more about the impact of the vapors on lives of residents there is a door-to door survey being conducted in the neighborhood.
This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a very tragic situation that must be addressed as soon as possible.
A recent study by the Department of State Health Services found that children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a form of leukemia at five times more frequently than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.