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. And now, Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements have revealed that the contamination may still be affecting people who live nearby.
Researchers believe it is due to the high incidence of cancers in the area. Two years after launching an investigation across the state on health Researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic childhood and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is a popular chemical used for the treatment of wood is also a popular one. It can also cause cancer in those who are exposed to it.
It is a heavy oily substance that's amber or black in color and has a smokey odor and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been used for more than 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 can also be used to guard log houses and other structures from rot and insect infestation.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is a chemical that could be dangerous. The exposure to creosote over brief periods may cause skin and eye irritation as well as chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of the throat or mouth, kidney or liver problems and even permanent damage.
Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a serious issue for those who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.
According to the EPA, it is a possible human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to many types of cancer, including esophageal as well as lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, thanks to a former railroad yard right next to their homes. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements say the chemical has affected their homes as well as their soil and continues to spread underground.
The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the effort to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They are requesting that the company tests regularly for contamination and take measures to stop it from spreading.
A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating soil under their homes and causing significant health issues.
Cancer Lawsuit are seeking damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They also claim to be victimized by environmental racism and discrimination, in addition to other forms of pollution that has impacted them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are substances that do not break down quickly in the environment and they can remain in the air, water, or sediment for an extended period of. They are found in a variety places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.
Although Railroad Injury Settlement Amounts of dioxin on health at low levels are not well-studied, there is evidence that they can trigger serious illnesses , such as cancer. People who are exposed to higher levels of dioxin are found to be at greater risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune system disorders and endocrine disorders like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, menstrual issues and diabetes weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts called chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most common method people are exposed to dioxin is through food or drinking water. They are not volatile or water-soluble, so they are easily taken in by the body through the intake of meat, dairy products such as fish, as well as other seafood.
But it is important to remember that the level of exposure that can have adverse effects on your health is contingent upon many factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you drink or eat, and how much air you breathe. It is also essential to take into consideration your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics along with other health factors that may influence whether you will be affected by dioxins or not.
In addition, the form of contaminant is an important factor. According to the EPA, some toxins are more harmful than others for human health. For instance, polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental impact on your health than creosote.
PCBs can cause damage to the eyes and liver, kidneys and kidneys. They also can harm the immune system and cause problems with the development of healthy bones, teeth, and bones.
For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a cluster of cancer-related deaths that has been connected to the Union Pacific rail yard, close to their homes. The city's health department announced on Friday that it found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The announcement said that the findings were not encouraging. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he intends to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan submitted by Texas environmental regulators won't suffice.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenyls, are harmful chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in industrial and consumer products. These substances were banned in 1979 following they were found to cause cancer, suppress the immune system and inhibit learning.
PCBs can be harmful to soil as well as water and air in a variety of regions of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are extremely binders to organic matter and are often persistent that means they are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.
Railroad Workers are a major concern for protecting the environment as well as public health. The EPA considers them a potential 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 relevant for children who are exposed to these chemicals during the womb.
The most common route for exposure to PCBs is through food items. Fish is the primary source of exposure because they contain the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.
Showering or drinking PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This could be caused by leaks or spills 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 that can last for weeks or even years.
The effects of PCBs upon the health of humans aren't completely recognized. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or the biliary tract cancers among humans, however more studies are needed to understand how this impacts us.
The EPA is also examining whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns. The low birth weight of newborns has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. 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 toxic metal and can be found in many products, such as paints, pipes, and food cans. It is absorbed by the body through two major pathways: oral and respiratory.
It is a strong chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your environment. This can lead to it accumulating in the body , and could cause serious health issues like cancer and other illnesses.
In Houston the residents who live near a creosote treatment facility owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated site.
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, such as creosote. Residents say that the company has been trying to eliminate the contamination, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.
One of the most significant problems that resulted from the contamination was the plume of groundwater that is located beneath homes in the area. A recent study conducted by the health department has revealed that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples around the rail yard is more than the recommended levels for drinking water.
Another reason to be concerned is that creosote is slowly disappearing into the air. It can cause residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which can cause fatalities for children as well as adults.
It is also possible that gases are causing cancers in those who breathe them in. A door-to door health survey is being conducted in the area 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. This is a very sad situation that must be addressed immediately.
A Department of State Health Services study discovered that leukemia rates were five times higher in children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than was anticipated. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhood than they were elsewhere in Texas.