Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn't taken the necessary steps to clean the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. Recent tests have revealed that the contamination may be impacting residents living near.
Researchers suggest it could be due to higher cancer rates in the area. Two years after the launch of an investigation into health issues across the state, researchers found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a common chemical used in the treatment of wood is also a very common one. It is also a toxic substance that can cause cancer when exposed to it.
It is a heavy oily substance that ranges from amber to black in color. It has a smokey scent and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 150 years to preserve wood.
It is widely used in the United States to treat railroad ties, and other types woods, such as fence posts, utility poles, as well as pilings for marine structures. It is also used to guard log homes and other structures against the effects of rot and insect invasion.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) creosote can be an extremely dangerous chemical. Short-term exposure can cause irritation of the skin and eyes as well as chemical burns, stomach discomfort burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems.
Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a serious concern for those who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.
According to the EPA it is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to several cancers which include esophageal, as well lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote thanks to a former railroad yard right next to their homes. They say the chemical has affected their homes and soil, and it continues to spread throughout the underground.
The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the initiative to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and adopt preventative 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 from the former rail yard is contaminating soil beneath their homes , causing significant health issues.
They are seeking compensation from the railroad to cover the costs of cleaning up and other related costs. They claim they are affected by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that have impacted them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are substances that don't break down in environment quickly and can remain in the air, soil or sediment for a long period. They can be found in a variety of places, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.
Railroad Injury Settlement Amounts of dioxin on health are unclear at low levels, but there is evidence to suggest that they can cause cancer and other serious diseases. The people who are exposed to higher levels have been found to have an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers immune system problems, and endocrine changes like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a weakened immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes, weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts, known as chloracne.
According to Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements . Environmental Protection Agency the most common method that people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking or eating. They are not water-soluble or volatile, so they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of dairy products or fish and other seafood.
It is important to remember, however, that exposure to dioxins could have a detrimental effect on your health, depending on many factors , including how much you drink, eat and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also important to take into account your gender and age, nutritional status, and family traits to determine if your family will be exposed to dioxins.
Additionally, the type of contaminant can be an important aspect. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to cause harm effect on human health than others. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative impact on your health than creosote.
For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys, and liver. They can also damage the immune system and cause problems with the growth of healthy bones, teeth and bones.
For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a string of cancer-related deaths which has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their neighborhoods. The announcement released on Friday by Houston's health department stated that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the rail yard. The announcement said that the results weren't 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 suffice.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been employed in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. After being shown to cause cancer and weaken the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.
Once released into the natural environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water in a variety of areas around the world. They are strong binders of organic matter that can be easily transported and accumulated into the environment.
PCBs are a major problem for the protection of the environment and public health. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been demonstrated to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Furthermore certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly applicable to children who are exposed these chemicals during the womb.
The main route of exposure to PCBs is through food. Fish is the main source of exposure, as they are the largest source of PCBs. But, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.
Cancer Lawsuits to be exposed PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is polluted with PCBs. This can happen from leaks or spills that can occur in electrical and other equipment.
People are also exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or skin contact. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as Chloracne. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements is small pale, yellow-colored lesions that can last from several weeks to several years.
The effects of PCBs on the health of humans aren't completely comprehended. Researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary cancers in humans. However further research is required to discover how this impacts us.
EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns, including less weight at birth. A low birth weight has been linked to insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in the course of. Two studies have shown that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights and/or a later age.
Lead
Lead is a poisonous metal and can be found in a wide range of products, including paints, pipes and food cans. It can be absorbed by the body through two major pathways: the respiratory and oral.
It is an extremely antioxidant and can react with other chemicals present in the environment. It can build up within the body, which could cause serious health problems like cancer and other diseases.
In Houston residents living near a creosote treatment facility run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked the federal government to instruct the railroad to remove its contaminated facility.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of polluting its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic to humans, including creosote. The company has been trying to clean up the contamination, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough residents believe.
One of the most significant problems that stemmed from the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the region. A recent study by the health department has revealed that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples around the rail yard is greater than the recommended levels for drinking water.
Another reason to be concerned is that creosote is slowly disappearing into the air. As it escapes, it causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors, which are harmful to children as well as adults.
It is also possible that fumes are causing cancers to the people who breathe the vapors in. A door-to-door health survey is currently being carried out in the neighborhood to discover more about the effects of the vapors on the residents' lives.
This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It's a sad state of affairs and must be resolved immediately.
A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services discovered that children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a form of leukemia that was five times higher rate than expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhood than they were elsewhere in Texas.