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 remove an underground plume of creosote at its rail yard that is contaminated. The latest tests suggest that the contamination could still be affecting people who live nearby.
Researchers believe it is due to the large number of cancers in the area. Two years into a state health investigation and they found higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is a chemical commonly that is used in the treatment of wood. It can cause cancer in people who are exposed to it.
It is a dense, oily substance that is black or amber in appearance and has a smokey odor and a burnt taste. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for over 150 years to preserve wood.
It is employed in the United States to treat railroad tiesand other types of woods, including fence posts, utility poles, as well as pilings for marine structures. It can also be used to safeguard log homes and other structures from rot and infestation.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is potentially dangerous chemical. In the event of exposure to creosote for a short periods can cause skin and eye irritation and chemical burns stomach pains, burning in the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.
Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.
According to Cancer Lawsuit is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a number of different types of cancer such as esophageal or lung cancer.
Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades, thanks to a former rail yard near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, soil, and continues to spread underground.
Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and implement preventative measures to prevent the spread.
A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the 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 have been harmed by environmental racism discrimination, sexism, and other forms of pollution that affected their families as well as them.
Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements are substances that do not break down in the environment quickly . They can be left in the air, the soil of the water, or sediment for long periods. They are found in a variety of places, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.
Although the effects of dioxin on health in low concentrations aren't yet known yet, there is evidence suggesting that they could cause serious diseases like cancer. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune problems, and endocrine issues like hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a weakened immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues as well as hair growth, weight loss and facial cysts called chloracne.
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 aren't liquid or volatile, which means they are more likely to be in the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish or other seafood.
It is important to remember, however, that exposure to dioxins could affect your health, based on numerous factors , including how much you eat, drink, and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also important to take into consideration your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics, as well as other health factors that could affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.
Additionally, the type of contaminant is another important factor. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more harmful than others to human health. Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs are more likely than creosote cause harm to your health.
For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys, and liver. They can also harm the immune system and cause issues with the growth of healthy teeth, bones, and bones.
Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for a long time 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 reported on Friday that it found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The release said that the findings were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's going to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan presented to Texas environmental regulators will not be adequate given the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenyls, are harmful chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in consumer and industrial products. After being shown to cause cancer and weaken the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.
PCBs can contaminate soil or water as well as air in a variety of regions of the world once they are released into the environment. They are powerful binders of organic matter, and are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.
PCBs are a major concern to protect the environment and public health. The EPA considers them a potential human carcinogen and has proved that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly relevant for children who are exposed to PCBs in the womb.
PCBs are most often ingested through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. However, Railroad Workers can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.
Another way to get exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that has been infected with PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills in electrical or other equipment.
People are also exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or through skin contact. These chemicals can cause an illness known as Chloracne. This is small pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that may last for weeks or even years.
However the effects of PCBs on the human body are not fully comprehended. Some researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary tract cancer in humans, but more research is needed to find out how this impacts us.
EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, including low birth weight. Low birth weight has been associated with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in the course of. In two studies, children 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 present in a variety of products like paints pipes and food cans. The body absorbs it through two major routes: the respiratory and oral.
It is an extremely oxidizing chemical and can react with other substances in your environment. This can lead to it accumulating in the body and can lead to serious health problems like cancer and other illnesses.
In Houston, people who live near a creosote legacy treatment facility run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has asked the federal government to direct the railroad to clean up its contaminated facility.
Union Pacific Railroad has a history in which it has been a source of contamination for its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The railroad has been trying to eliminate the mess, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient residents believe.
One of the most significant problems that resulted from the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the region. A recent study by health officials has found that soil samples from the rail yard have an increased amount of creosote than what is required for drinking water.
Another cause for concern is the slow evaporation of creosote into the atmosphere. As it is, it causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that are harmful for children as well as adults.
It is possible that the vapors cause cancer among those who inhale them. A door-to-door health survey is currently being carried out in the neighborhood to discover more about how the vapors are impacting the lives of the residents.
This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It's a pity and it should be taken care of immediately.
A Department of State Health Services study found that leukemia incidences were five times higher for children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens areas than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more frequent in the neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.