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 contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have revealed that the contamination may continue to affect those who live near.
Researchers believe that it could be due to the high incidence of cancers that are found in the area. Two years after launching an all-state health investigation, researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a common chemical used for the treatment of wood, is also a common one. It is also a toxic substance that can cause cancer when exposed to it.
It is a dense, oily substance that is black or amber in color and has a smoky smell and a burnt taste. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for over 150 years to preserve wood.
It is used in the United States to treat railroad ties, as well as other types of woods, like fence posts and utility poles, and pilings for marine structures. It can also be used to protect log structures and homes from rot and insect infestation.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that creosote may be an extremely hazardous chemical. In short-term exposure, it can cause skin and eye irritation, chemical burns stomach pain, burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney issues.
Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a serious concern for those who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.
It is believed to be a human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked to a number kinds of cancers including esophageal and lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote because of a former railroad yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil and continues to spread underground.
The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the initiative to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test regularly for contamination and to take steps to prevent it from spreading.
In October of 2017 the group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote contaminated their soil and caused significant health issues as a result of the former rail yard.
They are seeking compensation for their ailments and suffering and compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleaning and other related costs. They also claim to be suffering from environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemicals that do not break down quickly in the environment and they can be found in the air, water, soil or sediment for a lengthy period of time. They are found in many places, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration as well as hazardous waste.
Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels aren't yet known but there is evidence that they could cause serious illnesses like cancer. Dioxin levels that are higher are linked to a higher risk of heart disease, organ cancers immune issues, and endocrine issues including hormonal imbalances. They can also cause hormonal issues, weakened immunity womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most popular way that people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking water or food. They are not volatile and water-soluble, so they are easily to be absorbed by the body through the intake of dairy products, meat, fish, and other seafood.
But it is important to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that can have detrimental effects on your health is contingent upon various factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, how often you drink or eat, and the amount of air you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender and age, nutritional status, and family traits to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.
Railroad Injury Settlement Amounts of contaminant is also crucial. According to the EPA the EPA, certain toxins are more harmful than others for the health of humans. Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs are more likely than creosote to cause harm to your health.
PCBs can cause damage to eyes, liver, kidneys, and kidneys. They can also affect a person's immune system and interfere with the growth of healthy teeth and bones.
Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster cancer deaths that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is next to their homes. The city's health department announced Friday that it has found cancer-causing substances in surface 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 proposal submitted by Texas environmental regulators won't suffice.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for over 60 years. After being found to cause Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements and inhibit the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.
Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil in many areas of the world. They are powerful binders of organic matter and can be transported easily and accumulated in the environment.
PCBs are a major concern for protecting the environment and public health. The EPA considers them a probable human carcinogen , and has demonstrated that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Additionally, some studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals while during pregnancy.
PCBs are most commonly consumed through food items. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the primary source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.
Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This could be caused by leaks or spills from electrical and other equipment.
People can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or skin contact. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as chloracne which is small, pale, yellow skin lesions that can last from a few weeks to a few years.
However Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements of PCBs on human health are not yet completely understood. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However there is more research needed to discover how this impacts us.
The EPA is also examining whether these chemicals might cause birth defects in newborns. The low birth weight of newborns is associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. Two studies found that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights or a later age.
Lead
Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements is a highly toxic metal that is found in many items including paints, pipes and food containers. The body absorbs it via two routes: the respiratory and oral.
It is a powerful antioxidant that can react with other chemicals found in the environment. This can lead to it accumulating within the body and cause serious health issues such as cancer and other diseases.
In Houston, people who live near a legacy creosote treatment plant owned by 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.
Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having caused harm to its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. The company has tried to eliminate the mess, but a plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient residents believe.
The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is among the most serious effects of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has revealed that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain more creosote than is recommended for drinking water.
Another concern is the gradual release of creosote into the atmosphere. It is causing residents to breathe harmful levels of vapors which can cause fatalities for children as well as adults.
It is also possible that fumes are causing cancers to the people who breathe them in. To learn more about the effects of the vapors on the lives of residents there is a door-to door survey being done in the neighborhood.
This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a tragic situation and it should 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 communities contracted a form leukemia at five times higher rate than the average. The study also found that adult cancers were more frequent in the neighborhood than they were elsewhere in Texas.