Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn’t done enough to clean the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. Recent tests have revealed that the contamination could be in the vicinity of residents.
Researchers say it may be linked to the increased cancer rates in the area. Two years into a state health investigation and they found higher than expected levels of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is a chemical commonly used to treat wood. It can also cause cancer in people who are exposed to it.
It is a heavy oily substance, amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a 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 as well as other types of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It is also used to protect log structures and homes from rot and insect infestation.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is an extremely dangerous chemical. A short-term exposure could cause irritation of the skin and eyes and chemical burns stomach discomfort, burning of the throat or mouth, and kidney or liver problems.
Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Cancer Lawsuits is a serious issue for those who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.
It is thought to be a probable human carcinogen as per the EPA. It has been linked with several cancers, including esophageal as well as lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, due to a former railroad yard that was close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, soil and continues to spread underground.
Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. Cancer Lawsuits demand that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and implement preventative measures to prevent the spread.
In October of 2017, a group comprised of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil under their homes and causing significant health issues.
They are seeking compensation from the railroad in order to cover the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they are affected by environmental racism and discrimination in addition to other types of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemicals that do not degrade quickly in the environment, and can remain in the air, water, soil or sediment for a long period of. They are found in a variety of locations such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration as well as hazardous waste.
The effects of dioxin on health are not known at low levels, however there is evidence that suggests they may cause cancer as well as other serious illnesses. People who are exposed to higher levels of dioxin have been found to be at risk of heart disease, organ cancers as well as immune system issues and endocrine imbalances such as hormonal imbalances. They can also cause hormonal problems, suppressed immunity, diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most common way people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not volatile or water-soluble, therefore they are more easily to be absorbed by the body through the consumption of dairy products, meat as well as fish and other seafood.
However, it is crucial to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that can have adverse effects on your health will depend on many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you drink or eat, and how much air you breathe. You should also consider your gender, age, nutrition, and family characteristics to determine if you'll be exposed to dioxins.
The type of contaminant also crucial. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to have a damaging impact on human health than others. For instance, polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative impact on your health than creosote.
PCBs can cause damage to the eyes and kidneys, liver, and kidneys. They can also damage the immune system and cause problems in the development of healthy teeth, bones and bones.
For a long time, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a series of cancer-related deaths which has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is located near their neighborhoods. The city's health department reported on Friday that it had discovered cancer-causing chemical compounds in surface samples near the rail yard. The release stated that the results were not a good sign. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a proposed plan by Texas environmental regulators won't be sufficient.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in industrial and consumer products. After they were proven to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.
When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water in many areas of the world. They are powerful binders of organic matter, and are easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.
This is why PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of public health and the environment. The EPA considers them a probable human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in lab animals.
Certain studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly applicable to children who are exposed PCBs in the womb.
PCBs are most often ingested through food. Fish are the primary source of exposure, as they contain the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.
Another way to be exposed PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is contaminated with PCBs. This can happen from leaks or spills which could be caused by electrical or other equipment.
Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing air or through skin. These chemicals can trigger an illness 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 fully known. Researchers have suggested that they may cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However further research is required to determine how this affects us.
The EPA is also examining whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborn babies. Low birth weight has been associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in life. 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 highly toxic metal that can be found in a variety of items including paints, pipes, and food cans. The body can absorb it via two routes: oral and respiratory.
It is a potent antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals found in the environment. It is able to accumulate within the body and could cause serious health issues, such as cancer and other illnesses.
In Houston the residents who live close to a creosote-based treatment facility owned by Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated facility.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of polluting its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals for humans, such as creosote. The company has been trying to eliminate the contamination, but a plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough, residents say.
The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is one of the most grave consequences of the contamination. Railroad Workers conducted by the health department shows that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples from the rail yard is greater than the recommended levels for drinking water.
Another major concern is that the creosote is slowly escaping into the air. It causes residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that can be harmful to children as well as adults.
It is possible that the vapors cause cancer in those who breathe them. A door-to-door health survey is currently being conducted in the area to find out more about the effects of the vapors on the lives of the residents.
This is a serious problem for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a very sad situation that needs to be dealt with immediately.
Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements of State Health Services study found that the rate of leukemia was five times higher for children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens areas than was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more common in these neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.