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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn't taken the necessary steps to clean up an underground plume that is contaminated rail yard. And now, Cancer Lawsuit show the contamination could continue to affect people who live near.
Researchers believe it is due to the high number of cancers in the area. Two years into a health study conducted by the state they discovered 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 is a popular chemical used in the treatment of wood is also a popular one. It is also a poisonous substance and can cause cancers in those exposed to it.
It is a thick oily substance which is amber or black in color and has a smokey odor and burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.
In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other types of wood, including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It is also used to shield log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) creosote can be a potentially dangerous chemical. When exposed to creosote, even for brief periods may cause irritation to the eyes and skin chemical burns, stomach pains, burning in the throat or mouth as well as liver or kidney problems and even permanent damage.
Exposure for long periods can lead to skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.
According to the EPA It is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with various cancers which include esophageal, as well lung cancer.
Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades due to an old rail yard close to their homes. They say the chemical has contaminated their homes and soil and continues to spread throughout the underground.
The city 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 implement preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.
A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They allege that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes , causing serious health problems.
They are seeking compensation from the railroad in order to cover the cost of cleanup as well as other related costs. They also claim to be suffering from environmental racism and discrimination, and other forms of pollution that have adversely affected their families and friends.

Dioxin
Dioxins are chemicals that don't break down quickly in the environment, and they can stay in the soil, air, or sediment for a long duration. They can be found in a variety places, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration and hazardous waste.
Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't known, there is evidence that they can cause serious illnesses such as cancer. The people who are exposed to higher levels have been found to have an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune system problems, and endocrine disorders including hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal issues, weakened immunity womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements that people are exposed dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not volatile and water-soluble, therefore they are more easily absorbable by the body via the consumption of dairy products, meat, fish, and other seafood.
It is important to remember, however, that exposure to dioxins could be detrimental to your health depending on many factors like how much you drink, eat, and the frequency you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your age, gender as well as your diet, nutritional status and family traits along with other health factors that could affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.
In addition, the form of contaminant can be an important aspect. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to cause harm effect on human health than others. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental 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 issues with the development of healthy teeth, bones and bones.
Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster of cancer deaths that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is located close to their homes. Friday's announcement by the city's health department revealed that they had found cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the rail yard. The announcement said 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 biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been used for more than 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. These chemicals were banned in 1979 following being found to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and hinder learning.
When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil in many areas of the world. They are strong binders of organic matter and can be easily transported and accumulated into the environment.
In the end, PCBs are a major issue for the protection of public health and the environment. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been found to cause cancer in lab animals.
Some studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly relevant for children who are exposed to these chemicals during the womb.
PCBs are most commonly consumed through food. Fish is the main source of exposure, since they contain the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.
Another way to be exposed PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that is affected by PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills that occur in electrical or other equipment.
People are also exposed to PCBs by breathing in the air or coming into contact with skin. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as chloracne which is a tiny, pale yellow skin lesions which can last from a few weeks to a few years.
However the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet fully recognized. Some researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary tract cancer in humans, however more studies are needed to determine the extent to which this impacts us.
EPA has also been examining whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, such as lower birth weight. A low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and later-life cardiovascular disease. Two studies showed that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or older.
Lead
Lead is a toxic metal that is found in many products, such as paints, pipes and food cans. It can be absorbed by the body through two main pathways: oral and respiratory.
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 could lead to serious health problems such as cancer and other ailments.
In Houston the residents who live close to a creosote-based treatment plant owned by Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to direct the railroad to clean its toxic site.
Union Pacific Railroad has a history in which it has affected its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Residents say that the company has been trying to eliminate the contamination, but the plan submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.
One of the major problems that arose due to the contamination is the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. Cancer Lawsuit conducted by the health department has revealed that the concentration of creosote present in soil samples around the rail yard is more than the recommended levels for drinking water.
Railroad Injury Settlement Amounts is the slow evaporation of creosote to the atmosphere. As it is, it is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors, which are harmful for children as well as adults.
It is also possible that the fumes are causing cancers to the residents who are breathing the vapors. To learn more about the effects of the vapors' effects on the lives of residents there is a door-to door survey being conducted in the neighborhood.
This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It is a sad situation and must be addressed immediately.
A recent study by the Department of State Health Services discovered that children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a form leukemia that was five times higher rate than the average. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.