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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 an underground plume of creosote at its rail yard that is contaminated. And now, the most recent tests suggest that the contamination could still be affecting those who live nearby.
Researchers say it may be related to elevated cancer rates in the region. Two years after launching an investigation into health issues across the state, researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic childhood and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the vicinity of the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is a chemical commonly 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 dense oily substance which is 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 as a wood preservative.
It is widely used in the United States to treat railroad tieways, as well as other kinds of woods, including fence posts and utility poles, as well as pilings from marine construction. It can also be employed to protect log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is potentially dangerous chemical. A short-term exposure could cause irritation to the skin and eyes and chemical burns stomach pain burning of the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver problems.
Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a major concern for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.
According to the EPA it is a known human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a number of cancers of various types, including esophageal and lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, because of a former railroad yard close to their homes. The chemical is said to have contaminated their homes and 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 are demanding that the company test for contamination regularly and take preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.
A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote was a source of contamination in their soil and caused serious health issues as a result of the former rail yard.
They are seeking compensation from the railroad to pay the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They also claim that they are harmed by environmental racism and discrimination and other kinds of pollution that have affected them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemical compounds that do not break down in the environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, water soil or in sediment for a long time. They can be found in a variety of locations that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration as well as hazardous waste.
Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't yet known but there is evidence that they can cause serious diseases like cancer. The people who are exposed to higher levels are believed to be at risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune system problems, and endocrine disorders including hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal issues, suppressed immunity, diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most common way that people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking or eating. They are not volatile and water-soluble, which means they are more easily taken in by the body through the intake of dairy products, meat as well as fish and other seafood.
It is nevertheless important to be aware that the amount of exposure that can have detrimental effects on your health depends on numerous factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, the frequency you eat or drink and how much you breathe. You should also take into consideration your gender and age, nutritional status, and family traits to determine if you will be exposed to dioxins.
Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is an important factor. The EPA declares that certain toxins are more likely to have a damaging impact on health than others. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative effect on your health than creosote.
For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They can also affect the immune system of a person and affect the development of healthy bones and teeth.
For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a series of cancer-related deaths that has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is located near their neighborhoods. The city's health department announced on Friday that it had found cancer-causing chemical compounds in surface samples near the rail yard. The release stated that the findings were not encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal submitted to Texas environmental regulators wouldn't be adequate in light of the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. These substances were banned in 1979 after they were found to cause cancer, inhibit the immune system, and impair learning.
After being released into the atmosphere, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil in a variety of areas around the world. They are strong binders for organic matter, and are transported easily and accumulated in the environment.
Therefore, PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of public health and the environment. They are regarded as a possible human carcinogen by EPA, and have been proven to cause cancer in lab animals.
Furthermore certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly applicable to children who have been exposed to these chemicals while in the womb.
The primary route for exposure to PCBs is through food items. Fish is the most common source of exposure since they contain the highest amount of PCBs. However, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.
Drinking and showering with PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This could be due to leaks or spills that can occur in electrical and other equipment.
People can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or by skin contact. These chemicals can trigger a condition called Chloracne. This is a mild pale, yellow-colored lesions that may last for weeks to years.
The effects of PCBs on human health are not fully understood. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver and biliary tract cancer in humans, but further studies are needed to understand the extent to which this impacts us.
The EPA is also investigating 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 disease. 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 toxic metal that can be found in many items including paints, pipes and food cans. Railroad Workers is absorbed by the body through two major pathways: the respiratory and oral.
It is a strong chemical that can oxidize and react with other substances in your environment. This can lead to its accumulation in the body and can cause serious health issues like cancer and other illnesses.
In Houston the residents who live near a creosote legacy treatment facility run by Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to instruct the railroad to cleanse its contaminated site.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having its rail yard contaminated 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 remove the contamination but the plan that was submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.
The plume of groundwater below homes in the affected area is one of the most serious consequences of the contamination. A recent study conducted by the department of health shows that the concentration of creosote in soil samples near the rail yard is greater than the levels recommended for drinking water.
Another concern is the gradual release of creosote in the air. It is causing residents to inhale toxic levels of vapors, which can be fatal for children as well as adults.
It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in those who inhale them. A door-to door health survey is being conducted in the neighborhood to learn more about how the vapors affect the residents' lives.
This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a very tragic situation that needs to be addressed immediately.
A Department of State Health Services study discovered that leukemia rates were five times higher for children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens areas than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.