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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

For decades, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn't done enough to clean up creosote-laden creosote plume that was at its contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have shown that contamination is still affecting residents living nearby.

Researchers say it may be due to higher cancer rates in the area. Two years after the launch of a state-wide health investigation and a study by researchers, they found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic childhood and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the region around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a common chemical used to treat wood. It is also a poisonous substance that can cause cancer in those exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance that's black or amber in appearance and has a smoky smell and a burnt flavor. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

It is employed in the United States to treat railroad ties, and other types woods like fence posts and utility poles, and pilings for marine use. It is also used to shield log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote can be a dangerous chemical. Short-term exposure can cause eye and skin irritation chemical burns, stomach pain, burning of the throat or mouth and liver or kidney issues.

Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a serious concern for workers who have direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

It is considered a probable human carcinogen as per the EPA. It has been linked to a number of cancers of various types such as esophageal or lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote because of a former railroad yard that was close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has contaminated their homes and soil and continues to spread throughout the underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination regularly and implement preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.

https://sites.google.com/view/railroadcancersettlements of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote had contaminated their soil and caused serious health issues from the former rail yard.

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They are seeking compensation from the railroad in order to cover the costs of cleaning up and other related costs. They claim they have suffered the effects of environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other types of pollution that has affected their families as well as them.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that don't break down quickly in the environment and can remain in the air, water, soil or sediment for an extended period of time. They can be derived from many sources, such as natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoke from cigarettes and incineration of hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin are not clear at low levels, however there is evidence that dioxin can trigger cancer and other serious diseases. Higher levels of dioxin are linked to a higher risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune disorders, and endocrine disorders, like hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues as well as hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts called chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most prevalent way people are exposed to the toxins is through food and water. They are not water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be in the body through the consumption of dairy products, fish and other seafood.

However, it is important to remember that the level of exposure that can have a harmful effect on your health is dependent on several factors, such as the amount of food you consume or drink, the frequency you drink or eat, and how much you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics, as well as other health factors that may affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.

In addition, the form of contaminant is another important factor. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on human health than others. Polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs are more likely than creosote to cause harm to your health.

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

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for a long time about cluster of cancer deaths that are caused by the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is next to their homes. The city's health department announced on Friday that it has found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The release stated that the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's going to take legal action against Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators won't be sufficient in light of the findings.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also known as polychlorinated Biphenyls, are noxious chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. PCBs were banned in 1979 following they were found to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and hinder learning.

When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water throughout the world. They bind tightly to organic matter and tend to remain in the environment for a long time which means they are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

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

Some studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.

PCBs are most commonly consumed through food items. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is polluted with PCBs. This can result from leaks or spills that can be caused by electrical or other equipment.

People can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or by skin contact. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as Chloracne. This is a mild pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last for weeks to years.

The effects of PCBs on human health are not fully known. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver or biliary tract cancer in humans, however more studies are needed to determine how this impacts us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns. 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 poisonous metal and is found in a variety of products, including paints, pipes and food containers. The body absorbs it through two main routes: oral and respiratory.

It is an extremely oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals in the environment. It is able to accumulate within the body, which 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 instruct the railroad to cleanse the site that is contaminated.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of contamination of its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic to humans, including creosote. The company has been working to eliminate the contamination, but a plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough, residents say.

The plume of groundwater below homes in the affected area is among the most dangerous effects of the contamination. A recent study conducted by health officials has found that soil samples from the rail yard contain more creosote than is recommended for drinking water.

Another issue is the slow release of creosote into the atmosphere. As it does, it causes residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors which are harmful to children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors could cause cancer for those who breathe them. A door-to-door health survey is being carried out in the neighborhood to learn more about how the vapors affect the lives of residents.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It is a sad situation and it should be dealt with immediately.

A Department 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 neighborhoods than was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.

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Pub: 07 May 2023 10:49 UTC
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