Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
For decades, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to clean up creosote-laden creosote plume that was at its contaminated rail yard. Recent tests have revealed that the contamination could be impacting residents living near.
Researchers believe it could be due to the high incidence of cancers in the region. Two years into a state health investigation, they found higher-than-expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers within the communities around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a common chemical that is used to treat wood is also a typical one. It is also a harmful substance that can cause cancer when exposed to it.
It is a thick oily substance which is amber or black in color and has a smokey odor and a burnt flavor. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for more than 150 years to preserve wood.
It is utilized in the United States to treat railroad tieways, as well as other kinds of woods, such as fence posts, utility poles, and pilings for marine use. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements can also be used to protect log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that creosote could be a dangerous chemical. Short-term exposure can cause irritation to the skin and eyes chemical burns, stomach pain burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems.
Exposure for long periods can lead to skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are susceptible to cancer.
It is considered a probable human carcinogen, according to the EPA. It has been linked to a number of cancers of various types, including esophageal and lung cancer.
Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades due to a former rail yard near their homes. They claim that the chemical has contaminated their homes, soil and is spreading underground.
The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination on a regular basis and adopt 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 the soil beneath their homes and is causing serious health issues.
They are seeking compensation from the railroad to pay the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim that they have been harmed by environmental racism discrimination, sexism, and other forms of pollution that affected them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemical compounds that don't break down in the environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, in the soil or in sediment for a long period. They can be found in a variety of locations that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration and hazardous waste.
The effects of dioxin on health are unclear at low levels, however there is evidence that dioxin can cause cancer and other serious illnesses. Dioxin levels that are higher are linked to a higher risk of heart disease, organ cancers immune issues, and endocrine disorders, like hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal problems, suppressed immunity as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most popular way people are exposed is through water and food. They are not volatile or water-soluble, so they are easily absorbed by the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.
It is crucial to keep in mind, however, that exposure to chemicals can affect your health, depending on many factors like how much you drink, eat, and how often you breathe. It is also essential to take into consideration your gender, age, diet, nutritional status and family traits and other factors in your health that could determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.
The type of contaminant is also important. The EPA states that certain toxic substances are more likely to cause harm effect on human health than others. For instance, polychlorinated benzene (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental effect on your health than creosote.
PCBs can cause damage to eyes and liver, kidneys and kidneys. They can also affect the immune system and cause issues in the development of healthy bones, teeth, and bones.
For a long time, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a string of cancer deaths that has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their homes. The announcement made by the city's health department claimed that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the surface near the rail yard. The release said that the results were "not encouraging." FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposal submitted by Texas environmental regulators won't be sufficient.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PCBs, also known as polychlorinated Biphenyls, are noxious chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in consumer and industrial products. These chemicals were banned in 1979 after being discovered to cause cancer, suppress the immune system, and interfere with learning.
When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil across the world. They are strong binders of organic matter, and are easily transported and accumulated into the environment.
PCBs are a major issue for protecting the environment as well as public health. The EPA considers them a potential carcinogen for humans and has proven that they can cause cancer in lab animals.
Some studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially relevant for children who have been exposed to these chemicals during pregnancy.
PCBs are most commonly ingested through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs Fish is the primary source of exposure. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products, and other agricultural products.
Another way to be exposed PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that has been infected with PCBs. This can be caused by leaks or spills in electrical or other equipment.
In the same way, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or by touching the skin. These chemicals can cause a condition called Chloracne. It is a small pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last for weeks to years.
The effects of PCBs on human health are still not completely comprehended. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver and the biliary tract cancers in humans, but more research is needed to find out how this affects us.
EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, like less weight at birth. A low birth weight has been linked with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Two studies found that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights , and/or older.
Lead
Lead is a poisonous metal and is found in a variety of products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. It is absorbed into the body through two main pathways: the respiratory and oral.
It is a potent chemical that can oxidize and react with other chemicals in your surroundings. It can build up within the body and could lead to serious health issues like cancer and other illnesses.
In Houston, people who live near a creosote treatment facility run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the assistance of the federal government in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated 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. Residents have claimed that the company has been working to eliminate the contamination, but the plan submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.
The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is one of the most grave effects of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has found that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain a higher concentration of creosote than that recommended for drinking water.
Another cause for concern is the slow release of creosote in the air. It can cause residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which can be fatal for children and adults.
It is possible that the vapors cause cancer for those who inhale them. A door-to-door health survey is currently being conducted in the neighborhood to understand the effects of the vapors on the residents' lives.
This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a tragic situation and should be taken care of immediately.
A recent study by the Department of State Health Services discovered that children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a type of leukemia at a five times greater rate than what was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more frequent in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.