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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 rail yard that is contaminated. And now, the latest tests show the contamination could continue to affect those who live nearby.

Researchers believe it could be due to the large number of cancers found in the region. Two years after the launch of an all-state health investigation and a study by researchers, they found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote, a common chemical used in the treatment of wood is also a popular one. It can also cause cancer in people who are exposed to it.

It is a dense oily substance, amber to black in color. It has a smokey smell and a burnt taste. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for over 150 years to preserve wood.

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 protect log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote could be an extremely hazardous chemical. In the event of exposure to creosote for a short periods can cause skin and eye irritation as well as chemical burns, stomach pains, burning of mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems and even permanent damage.

Exposure for long periods can lead to skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are susceptible to cancer.

It is believed to be a human carcinogen, according to the EPA. It has been linked to various cancers which include esophageal, as well lung cancer.

Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, thanks to a former railroad yard that was close to their homes. The chemical is said to have affected their homes and soil and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination on a regular basis and take preventative measures to stop the spread.

In October of 2017, a group comprised of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating soil beneath their homes and causing significant health problems.

They are seeking compensation for their illness and suffering as well as compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other costs. They claim to have been harmed by racism in the environment 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 aren't able to break down in the environment quickly , and can remain in the air, soil or in sediment for a long period. They can be found in various sources, including natural disasters, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and the incineration process of hazardous waste.

The health effects of dioxin are not clear at low levels, however there is evidence to suggest that they may cause cancer as well as other serious diseases. The people who are exposed to higher levels have been found to be at a higher risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune system disorders and endocrine disorders such as hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, diabetes and menstrual issues as well as hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts called chloracne.

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

However, it is crucial to be aware that the amount of exposure that can have negative effects on your health is dependent on various factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, the frequency you consume alcohol or food, and how much air you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your age, gender as well as your diet, nutritional status and family characteristics in addition to other health factors that may influence whether you will be affected by dioxins or not.

The kind of contaminant used is also crucial. According to the EPA certain toxins are more harmful than others to the health of humans. Polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs are more likely than creosote to affect 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 hinder the growth of healthy teeth and bones.

Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years of cluster cancer deaths linked to the Union Pacific rail yard.  Cancer Lawsuit Settlements  is situated close to their homes. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department stated that it discovered cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples near the rail yard. The release noted that the results weren't encouraging. FOX 26's Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that he plans on suing Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan proposed by Texas environmental regulators won't suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenyls, are harmful chemicals that have been used for over 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. After they were proven to cause cancer and to suppress the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.

PCBs can infect soil or water as well as air in many regions of the globe once they are released into the environment. They are powerful binders of organic matter and can be easily transported and accumulated in the environment.

In the end, PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. The EPA is adamant that they are a human carcinogen and has proved that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Furthermore, some studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially applicable to children who are exposed these chemicals during the womb.

PCBs are most commonly ingested through food. Fish is the main source of exposure because they contain the most PCBs. But, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Another method of being exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that has been infected with PCBs. This could be due to spills or leaks that may occur in electrical and other equipment.

People can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or skin contact. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as Chloracne. It is a small pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last from weeks or even years.

However the effects of PCBs on human health aren't fully understood. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However, more research is needed to determine how this affects us.

The EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborn babies. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease 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 toxic metal that is present in a variety of products like paints, pipes and food cans. The body absorbs it via two routes: respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals found in the environment. It is able to accumulate in the body, which could cause serious health issues, such as cancer and other illnesses.

Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's creosote legacy plant are at a high risk of cancer. The city has asked for the assistance of the federal government in cleaning up the railroad's contamination site.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of polluting its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic to humans, such as 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 groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is among the most dangerous effects of the contamination. A recent study conducted by the health department has shown that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples from the rail yard is much higher than the levels recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is the slow escape of creosote from the atmosphere. It causes residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors, which could cause death for both children as well as adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer among those who inhale them. To find out more about the impact of the vapors in the lives of residents the neighborhood, a door-to-door survey being conducted in the neighborhood.

This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a very tragic situation that must be addressed immediately.

A Department of State Health Services study found that the rate of leukemia was five times higher for children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than was anticipated. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more common in these areas than in other areas of Texas.