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 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 say it may be related to the elevated cancer rates in the region. Two years after launching an investigation into health issues across the state and a study by researchers, they found that there were higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the region around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is a common chemical used to treat wood. It is also a toxic substance and can cause cancers in those exposed to it.
It is a dense oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smoky smell and a bitter taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.
In Cancer Lawsuits United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other types of wood including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. Union Pacific Lawsuit Settlements can also be used for protecting log structures and homes from insects and rot.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says creosote is a hazardous chemical. Exposure to it for short periods can cause skin and eye irritation as well as chemical burns, stomach discomfort and burning in the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems.
Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are at risk.
It is believed to be a human carcinogen, as per the EPA. It has been linked to a variety of cancers of various types including esophageal and lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for a long time to creosote due to a former railroad yard right next to their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their homes, soil and is spreading underground.
Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They demand that the company test for contamination regularly and adopt preventative measures to stop the spread.
In October 2017, a group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They allege that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes , causing significant health problems.
They are seeking compensation from the railroad to help cover the costs of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they are suffering from environmental racism and discrimination, and other forms of pollution that have affected them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are a class of chemicals that don't break down quickly in the environment, and can remain in the soil, air, or sediment for an extended period of time. They can be found in diverse sources, including natural disasters, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and the incineration process of hazardous waste.
Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels aren't known, there is evidence that they can cause serious diseases like cancer. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked with an increased risk of organ cancers, heart disease, immune problems, and endocrine issues like hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal issues, weakened immunity as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most prevalent way people are exposed is through water and food. They are not volatile or water-soluble, so they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.
It is vital to remember, however, that exposure to chemicals can have a detrimental effect on your health based on a variety of aspects, such as the amount you eat, drink, and the frequency you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your age, gender, diet, nutritional status and family traits along with other health factors that can determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.
The type of contaminant is equally important. 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 have a negative effect on your health.
PCBs can cause damage to eyes as well as the liver, kidneys and kidneys. Railroad Injury Settlement Amounts can also harm a person's immune system and hinder the growth of healthy teeth and bones.
For a long time, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a series of cancer-related deaths which has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, close to their homes. Friday's announcement by the city's health department said that it found cancer-causing chemicals on samples of the surface near the rail yard. The release noted 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 proposal submitted 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 proven to cause cancer and inhibit the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.
PCBs can infect soil, water, and air in many areas around the globe after they are released into the environment. They bind strongly to organic matter and tend to be persistent that means they are easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.
PCBs are a major concern for protecting the environment as well as public health. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been demonstrated to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Furthermore certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially true for children exposed to these chemicals while pregnant.
The most common route for exposure to PCBs is through food. Fish is the main source of exposure, since they contain the highest amount of PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in dairy products, beef, and other agricultural products.
Showering and drinking water is another way to be exposed. This can be caused by leaks or spillages in electrical or other equipment.
People can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing in air or by skin contact. These chemicals can trigger a condition called chloracne, which is a tiny, pale, yellow skin lesions that can last from weeks to years.
The effects of PCBs on human health are still not fully known. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver or biliary tract cancers in humans, but further research is needed to find out what this means for us.
EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects in newborns, like lower birth weight. A low birth weight has been associated with insulin resistance, or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases 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 that is found in many products like paints, pipes and food cans. The body absorbs it via two routes: oral and respiratory.
It is a powerful antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals in the surrounding. This can lead to it accumulating in the body , and could cause serious health issues like cancer and other ailments.
In Houston, people who live close to a creosote-based treatment facility run by Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has asked the federal government to order the railroad to clean the site that is contaminated.
Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having affected its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Residents claim that the railroad has been trying to clean up contamination but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.
One of the most important problems that stemmed due to the contamination is the groundwater plume under the homes in the region. A recent study by the health department has shown that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples in the rail yard is much higher than the recommended levels for drinking water.
Another major concern is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It causes residents to breathe harmful levels of vapors which could cause death for both children as well as adults.
It is also possible that the vapors are causing cancers in the residents who are breathing them in. A door-to-door health assessment is being conducted in the neighborhood to learn more about how the vapors affect the residents' lives.
This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. This is a tragic situation that must be addressed as soon as possible.
A Department of State Health Services study found that leukemia incidences were five times higher in children who lived in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than was anticipated. The study also found that adult cancers were more frequent in the neighborhood than elsewhere in Texas.