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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 creosote in the underground air at its rail yard that is contaminated. The most recent tests have shown that the contamination may be affecting residents living nearby.

Researchers believe it could be due to the high number of cancers in the region. Two years after launching an investigation into health issues across the state Researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic cancer in children and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a popular chemical that is used to treat wood is also a popular one. It is also a cause of cancer in people exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a bitter taste. It is a coal tar distillation product and 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 and other kinds of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It can also be used to shield log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.

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

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

It is believed to be a human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked to a number of different types of cancer including esophageal and lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades due to a former rail yard near their homes. The chemical is said to have affected their homes and soil and continues to spread throughout the underground.

The cities 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 to take steps to stop it from spreading.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes , causing serious health issues.

They are seeking compensation for their diseases and suffering, as well as compensation from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they have been harmed by racism in the environment, discrimination, and other kinds of pollution that have affected them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are a class of chemicals that do not degrade quickly in the environment and they can stay in the soil, air, or sediment for a long time. They can be found in a variety places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration and hazardous waste.

The effects of dioxin on health are not clear at low levels, but there is evidence that suggests they can cause cancer and other serious illnesses. Higher levels of dioxin are linked to a higher risk for heart disease, organ cancers immune disorders, and endocrine disorders, like hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to hormonal problems, suppressed immunity womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most popular way people are exposed is through water and food. They aren't water-soluble or volatile, so they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish and other seafood.

However, it is crucial to remember that the amount of exposure that has adverse effects on your health is dependent on several factors, such as the amount you eat or drink, how often you eat or drink and how often you breathe. It is also important to take into account your gender, age, nutrition, and family characteristics to determine if you will be exposed to dioxins.

In addition, the type of contaminant is an important factor. According to the EPA certain toxins are more dangerous than others to human health. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative effect on your health than creosote.

For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys, and liver. They also can harm the immune system of a person, and interfere with the growth of healthy bones and teeth.

For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a rash of cancer deaths that has been related to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is next to their neighborhoods. The city's health department reported on Friday that it had found cancer-causing chemical compounds in surface samples near the rail yard. The release stated that the results were "not encouraging." 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 will not suffice.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for over 60 years. After being found to cause cancer and weaken the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil across the world. They bind tightly to organic matter, and are often persistent which means they are easy to transport and build up in the environment.

PCBs are a major concern for protecting the environment as well as public health. They are considered a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

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

The most common route for exposure to PCBs is through food.  mesothelioma caused by railroad how to get a settlement  is the main source of exposure, as they are the source of the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also be present in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Another way to be exposed PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that is contaminated with PCBs. This can be caused by leaks or spills that occur in electrical or other equipment.

Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through their skin. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as Chloracne. This is a tiny pale, yellow-colored lesions that last for weeks to years.

The effects of PCBs on the health of humans aren't completely recognized. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver and the biliary tract cancers among humans, however more research is needed to find out how this impacts us.

EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, like lower birth weight. Low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular disease. Two studies showed that children with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or older.

Lead

Lead is a highly toxic metal that can be found in many products, such as paints, pipes, and food cans. It is absorbed into the body through two main pathways: the respiratory and oral.

It is an extremely chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals in your surroundings. This can cause it to accumulate within the body and lead to serious health problems like cancer, among other diseases.

In Houston residents living near a creosote treatment plant owned by Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government for an order to the railroad to cleanse the site that is contaminated.

Union Pacific Railroad has a past history of contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. The railroad has been trying to eliminate the mess, but the plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not sufficient residents believe.

One of the major issues that resulted from the contamination was the groundwater plume beneath homes in the area. A recent study conducted by health officials has shown that soil samples from the rail yard have an increased amount of creosote than the recommended amount for drinking water.

Another issue is that creosote is slowly disappearing into the air. It can cause residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors, which could cause death for both children and adults.

It is also possible that gases are causing cancers in those who breathe the vapors. A door-to-door health survey is being conducted in the area to find out more about the effects of the vapors on the residents' lives.

This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It's a sad state of affairs and should be dealt with immediately.

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