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 remove an underground plume of creosote at its rail yard that is contaminated. Recent tests have revealed that contamination is still affecting residents living nearby.
Researchers believe it could be due to the large number of cancers in the area. Two years after the launch of a state-wide health investigation Researchers found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a chemical commonly used to treat wood, is also a common one. It is also a cause of cancer in people who are exposed to it.
It is a thick oily substance that ranges from amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a bitter taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been in use for more than 150 years as an ingredient in 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 employed to protect log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states creosote is an extremely hazardous chemical. In short-term exposure, it can cause irritation of the skin and eyes, chemical burns, stomach discomfort and burning in the throat or mouth and liver or kidney problems.
Long-term exposure could lead to skin and scrotum tumors. This is a major concern for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes.
According to the EPA, it is a known human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a range kinds of cancers, including esophageal and lung cancer.
Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for years, thanks to an old rail yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated and is spreading underground.
The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test regularly for contamination , and take measures to prevent it from spreading.
In October 2017 a group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They allege that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil under their homes and causing serious health issues.
They are seeking damages from the railroad to pay the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim that they have been affected by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other types of pollution that has affected their families and themselves.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemical compounds that do not degrade quickly in the environment, and can remain in the soil, air, water or sediment for an extended duration. They can be found in a variety of locations such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration as well as hazardous waste.
The health effects of dioxin are not clear at low levels, however there is evidence that suggests they may cause cancer as well as other serious illnesses. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked with an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease immune issues, and endocrine disorders, including hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes as well as weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts called chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most prevalent way people are exposed is through water and food. They are not water-soluble or volatile, therefore they are more likely to be absorbed into the body through the consumption of dairy products, fish or other seafood.
But it is important to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that has detrimental effects on your health will depend on numerous factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you drink or eat, and how much air you breathe. You should also take into consideration your gender, age, nutrition, and family characteristics to determine if your family will be exposed to dioxins.
In addition, the type of contaminant is another important aspect. According to the EPA the EPA, certain toxins are more dangerous than others for human health. For instance, polychlorinated benzene (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 can also harm the immune system and cause issues with the growth of healthy teeth, bones and bones.
Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about a cluster of cancer deaths connected to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is situated close to their homes. The city's health department announced Friday that it found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The announcement said the findings 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 isn't sufficient in light of the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PCBs, also known as polychlorinated biphenyls, are harmful chemicals that have been used for more than 60 years in industrial and consumer products. After being proven to cause cancer and weaken the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.
PCBs can infect soil as well as water and air in many areas of the world after they are released into the environment. They bind tightly to organic matter and are often persistent, meaning they are relatively easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.
In the end, PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of public health and the environment. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been proven to cause cancer in laboratory 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.
PCBs are most often ingested through food items. Fish is the primary source of exposure, since they contain the highest amount of PCBs. However, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.
Another way to be exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that is affected by PCBs. This can be caused by leaks or spills in electrical or other equipment.
In the same way, people can be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or through their skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is a mild, small yellow skin lesions that can last for weeks or even years.
However the effects of PCBs on human health aren't fully known. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or the biliary tract cancers among humans, but further studies are needed to discover the extent to which this impacts us.
Railroad Cancer Settlement Amounts has also been examining whether these chemicals may cause birth defects for newborns, including lower birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. Two studies showed that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights or a later age.
Lead
Railroad Cancer Settlements is a highly toxic metal that is found in many products, such as paints, pipes and food containers. It is absorbed by the body through two main pathways: the respiratory and oral.
It is a powerful antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals in the environment. Railroad Cancer Settlement Amounts can accumulate in the body, which can cause serious health issues, such as cancer and other diseases.
In Houston the residents who live near a creosote legacy treatment plant owned by Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to order the railroad to clean its contaminated facility.
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 for humans, such as creosote. The railroad has been trying to clean up the contamination, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough residents claim.
One of the major issues that resulted due to the contamination is the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the area. A recent study by the health department has revealed that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples around the rail yard is more than the level recommended for drinking water.
Another issue is the gradual release of creosote into the atmosphere. It causes residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors which can cause fatalities for children as well as adults.
It is possible that the vapors could cause cancer in those who inhale them. To learn more about the effect of the vapors in the lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being conducted in the neighborhood.
This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a tragic situation that must be dealt with immediately.
A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services found that children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a type leukemia that was five times higher rate than expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more common in the neighborhood than elsewhere in Texas.