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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn't done enough to clean the underground plume that was contaminated with rail yard. The latest tests have demonstrated that contamination is still affecting residents living nearby.
Researchers believe it could be related to elevated cancer rates in the region. Two years into a health study conducted by the state, they found higher-than-expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is a common chemical used in the treatment of wood. It is also a dangerous substance and can cause cancers when exposed to it.
It is a heavy oily substance which is black or amber-colored and has a smoky smell and burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.
It is utilized in the United States to treat railroad ties, as well as other types of woods, such as fence posts, utility poles, as well as pilings for marine use. It is also used to safeguard log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote may be a dangerous chemical. When exposed to creosote, even for brief periods may cause skin and eye irritation chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of mouth or throat and liver or kidney issues, and even permanent damage.
Exposure for long periods can cause skin and scrotum carcinomas. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are at risk.
It is regarded as a possible human carcinogen according to the EPA. It has been linked with various cancers such as esophageal cancer as well lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote due to a railroad yard close to their homes. They claim the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil, and it continues to spread underground.
The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the effort to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination regularly and take preventative measures to stop it from spreading.
A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote that was emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating soil under their homes and causing serious health issues.
They are seeking compensation for their illness and suffering and also damages from railroads for the cost of cleaning and other associated costs. They claim they are victimized by environmental racism and discrimination, in addition to other types of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemicals that don't break down quickly in the environment and they can be found in the air, water, soil or in sediment for a long period of time. They are found in a variety places that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke, and incineration or hazardous waste.
The effects of dioxin on health are not known at low levels, but there is evidence that they can trigger cancer and other serious illnesses. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked to an increased risk for organ cancers, heart disease as well as immune-related issues and endocrine disorders, including hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger problems with hormones, immune suppression, 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 are not volatile and water-soluble, so they are easily absorbable by the body via the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.
However, it is crucial to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that has negative effects on your health is contingent upon various factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you eat or drink and how much air you breathe. You should also take into consideration your gender and age, as well as your nutrition and family characteristics to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.
The type of contaminant crucial. The EPA declares that certain toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on the human body than others. For example, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental effect on your health than creosote.
For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They also can harm a person's immune system and interfere with the growth of healthy bones and teeth.
Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster of cancers that have been caused by the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is close to their homes. The city's health department announced on Friday that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The announcement said that the findings were not encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan that he has submitted to Texas environmental regulators wouldn't be adequate in light of the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been used for more than 60 years in industrial and consumer products. PCBs were banned in 1979, after being proven to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and interfere with learning.
PCBs can cause contamination of soil, water, and air in a variety of regions of the world once they are released into the environment. They are strong binders for organic matter, and are easily transported and accumulated into the environment.
PCBs are a major problem for the protection of the environment and public health. Cancer Lawsuit Settlements are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been proven to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Furthermore, Railroad Cancer Lawsuit have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially the case for children who've been exposed to these chemicals while in the womb.
The main route of exposure to PCBs is through food. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.
Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This could be caused by leaks or spills in electrical equipment and other.
Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or through skin. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as Chloracne. This is small pale, yellow-colored lesions that can last from weeks or even years.
However, the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they may cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However there is more research needed to better understand how this impacts us.
EPA has also been examining whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, such as less weight at birth. Low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular disease. Two studies have shown that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights , and/or older.
Lead
Lead is a toxic metal that is found in many items, such as paints, pipes and food containers. The body can absorb it via two routes: the respiratory and oral.
It is a strong oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals in the surrounding. This can lead to it accumulating within the body. This can cause serious health issues such as cancer and other ailments.
In Houston, people who live near a legacy creosote treatment facility run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated facility.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having its rail yard contaminated in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals for humans, such as creosote. Residents say that the company has been working to clean up contamination but the proposal submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.
The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is among the most dangerous effects of the contamination. A recent study by the department of health shows that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples near the rail yard is greater than the recommended level for drinking water.
Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It can cause residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors, which can be fatal for children and adults.
It is also possible that the vapors are causing cancers in the people who breathe the vapors. A door-to-door health survey is currently being conducted in the neighborhood to understand how the vapors affect the residents' lives.
This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a terribly sad situation that must be addressed as soon as possible.
Railroad Cancer Lawsuit by the Department of State Health Services found that children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a form of leukemia that was five times higher rate than the average. The study also found that adult cancers were more frequent in the neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.