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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 contaminated rail yard. The most recent tests have shown that contamination is still in the vicinity of residents.

Researchers suggest it could be related to elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years into a state health investigation the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers within the communities around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a popular chemical used for the treatment of wood is also a very common one. It is also a cause of cancer in those who are exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance which is black or amber in color and has a smokey odor and burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been in use for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other kinds of wood, including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It is also used for protecting log homes and other structures against decay and insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states creosote is a dangerous chemical. Exposure to it for short periods can cause irritation to the skin and eyes, chemical burns, stomach pain burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney issues.

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 at risk.

According to the EPA the EPA, it is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to various cancers that include esophageal aswell as lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for a long time, thanks to an old rail yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has contaminated their homes, soil, and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined forces to fight Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test regularly for contamination and take measures to prevent it from spreading.

In October of 2017, a group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued 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 damages from the railroad to pay the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they are harmed by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that aren't able to break down in the environment in a timely manner and can stay in the air, soil or sediment for a lengthy period. They are found in a variety places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes, and incineration or hazardous waste.

Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels are not identified, there is evidence that they could cause serious illnesses such as cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels of dioxin are found to be at greater risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune system problems and endocrine disorders like hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual issues and diabetes, hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most popular way that people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not liquid or volatile, which means they are more likely to be absorbed into the body through the consumption of dairy products, fish and other seafood.

It is important to remember that exposure to dioxins can be detrimental to your health, depending on many factors like how much you drink, eat and the frequency with which you breathe. It is also essential to take into consideration your gender, age as well as your diet, nutritional status and family characteristics along with other health factors that could affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.

Additionally, the type of contaminant is also an important factor. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more harmful than others to the health of humans. Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs are more likely than creosote to negatively impact your health.

For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys, and liver. They can also affect the immune system of a person, and affect the development of healthy teeth and bones.

For years, residents in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a cluster of cancer deaths that have been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their homes. 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 release said that the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan presented to Texas environmental regulators won't be adequate in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. After being found to cause cancer and suppress the immune system, these chemicals were banned in 1979.

Once released into the natural environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil across the world. They are strong binders of organic matter and can be easily transported and accumulated into the environment.

This is why PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of public health and the environment. They are considered a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been shown to cause cancer in lab animals.

Additionally, some studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially the case for children exposed these chemicals during the womb.

PCBs are most commonly consumed through food. Fish are the primary source of exposure, since they contain the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products and other agricultural products.

Another method of being exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is contaminated with PCBs. This can be caused by leaks or spills from electrical or other equipment.

People may also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or by skin contact. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as chloracne which is a mild, small yellow skin lesions that can last from a few weeks to a few years.

The effects of PCBs upon human health are still not completely comprehended. Some researchers have suggested that they may cause liver and biliary tract cancer in humans, but further studies are needed to discover the extent to which this impacts us.

The EPA is also examining whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborn babies. Low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular disease. In two studies, children who were 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 highly toxic metal that is found in many items, such as paints, pipes and food containers. It can be absorbed by the body through two main pathways: oral and respiratory.

It is a strong chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your surroundings. It can accumulate in the body, and could cause serious health issues such as cancer and other ailments.

Houston residents who live near to the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote legacy plant have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked the federal government to order the railroad to clean up its contaminated facility.

Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of affected its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The company has been trying to eliminate the mess, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough residents say.

One of the biggest problems that stemmed due to the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the area. A recent study by the health department shows that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples around the rail yard is much higher than the recommended levels for drinking water.

Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote is slowly escaping into the air. As it is, it is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors which are dangerous for children and adults.

Railroad Cancer Lawsuit  is also possible that vapors are causing cancers in the residents who breathe the vapors in. To learn more about the effect of the vapors on the lives of residents, a door-to-door survey is being conducted in the neighborhood.

This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It's a sad state of affairs and should be addressed immediately.

A Department of State Health Services study found that leukemia rates were five times higher among children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens areas than was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.