Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn’t done enough to clean up an underground plume contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have shown that the contamination could be an issue for residents living nearby.
Researchers say it may be related to elevated cancer rates in the region. Two years into a health inspection by the state the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia as well as adult kidney and renal pelvis cancers in the neighborhoods around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a common chemical used in the treatment of wood is also a typical one. It can cause cancer in those exposed to it.
It is a heavy oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smoky smell and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.
It is widely used in the United States to treat railroad ties, and other types woods, such as fence posts and utility poles, and pilings for marine structures. It can also be employed to protect log homes and other structures from insect infestation.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is potentially dangerous chemical. Exposure to it for short periods can cause irritation of the skin and eyes as well as chemical burns, stomach discomfort, burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems.
Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are at risk.
According to the EPA, it is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to several cancers such as esophageal cancer as well lung cancer.
Houston's Fifth Ward residents have been exposed for decades to creosote, due to a railroad yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated and continues to spread underground.
Harris County and Houston have joined forces to fight Union Pacific in federal court. They are demanding that the company test for contamination regularly and implement preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.
A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote that was emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil under their homes and causing serious health issues.
They are seeking compensation for their diseases and suffering and also damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleaning and other associated costs. They also claim that they are victimized by environmental racism and discrimination in addition to other forms of pollution that have affected them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are substances that don't break down quickly in the environment, and they can stay in the soil, air, or in sediment for a long period of time. They can be found in a variety of places that include natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration and hazardous waste.
Although the effects of dioxin on health in low concentrations aren't identified but there is evidence that they can cause serious illnesses , such as cancer. The people who are exposed to higher levels have been found to be at risk of heart disease, organ cancers immune system problems, and endocrine disorders, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual problems and diabetes and hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts known as chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most prevalent way people are exposed is through water and food. They aren't liquid or volatile, which means they are more likely to be in the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish and other seafood.
It is nevertheless important to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that will have negative effects on your health will depend on various factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, how often you consume alcohol or food, and how much you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your age, gender and nutrition status, as well as diet and family characteristics and other health factors that may determine whether you'll be affected by dioxins or not.
Additionally, Railroad Cancer Settlements of contaminant is another important factor. According to the EPA, some toxins are more dangerous than others to human health. Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs are more likely than creosote affect your health.
PCBs can cause damage to eyes as well as the liver, kidneys and kidneys. They can also damage the immune system and cause problems with the development of healthy bones, teeth and bones.
Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years of cluster of cancer deaths that are linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is located close to their homes. The announcement on Friday by the city's health department claimed that it discovered cancer-causing chemicals in samples of the rail yard. The announcement said 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 plan submitted by Texas environmental regulators won't suffice.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in industrial and household products for more than 60 years. After they were proven to cause cancer and inhibit the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.
PCBs can contaminate soil, water, and air in many areas of the world after they are released into the environment. They are powerful binders of organic matter that can be easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.
PCBs are a major concern for the protection of the environment and public health. The EPA considers them to be a possible human carcinogen and has shown that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.
In addition certain studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially true for children who have been exposed to these chemicals during pregnancy.
The main route of exposure to PCBs is through food. Fish is the primary source of exposure, as they contain the highest amount of PCBs. However, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.
Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This can happen from leaks or spills which could be caused by electrical or other equipment.
Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or by touching the skin. These chemicals can trigger an illness known as chloracne which is a mild, small, yellow skin lesions that can last from a few weeks to a few years.
However the effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely recognized. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver and the biliary tract cancers among humans, but further studies are needed to determine the extent to which this impacts us.
EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, including low birth weight. A low birth weight has been linked with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, 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 a variety of products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. It is absorbed into the body via two main pathways: the respiratory and oral.
It is a strong antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals in the surrounding. This can cause it to accumulate in the body , and could cause serious health issues like cancer, among other ailments.
Houston residents who live near to the Union Pacific Railroad's legacy creosote plant have a high incidence of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to instruct the railroad to cleanse the site that is contaminated.
Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having been a source of contamination for its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The company has been working to clean up the contamination, but a plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn't enough residents claim.
One of the biggest issues that resulted from the contamination was the groundwater plume under the homes in the area. A recent study conducted by health officials has shown that soil samples taken from the rail yard have an increased amount of creosote than the recommended amount for drinking water.
Another issue is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. It is causing residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors which could cause death for children as well as adults.
It is possible that the vapors could cause cancer for those who breathe them. To learn more about the effect of the vapors on lives of residents, a door-to-door survey is being conducted in the neighborhood.
This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a very sad situation that needs to be addressed immediately.
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 expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more common in these neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.