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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn’t done enough to clean up an underground plume that is contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have shown that the contamination may be in the vicinity of residents.
Researchers say it may be related to the elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years after the launch of a state-wide health investigation the researchers discovered that there were higher than expected rates of lymphoblastic cancer in children as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the vicinity of the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a common chemical, is employed in the treatment of wood. It is also a harmful substance that can cause cancer in those exposed to it.
It is a thick oily substance that's black or amber-colored and has a smokey odor and a burnt taste. It is a coal-tar distillation product that has been used for over 150 years as a wood preserver.
In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties as well as other kinds of wood including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It can also be used to guard log structures and homes from rot and insect infestation.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares that creosote could be a hazardous chemical. In the event of exposure to creosote for a brief periods may cause irritation to the eyes and skin, chemical burns stomach pains, burning of the mouth or throat as well as liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.
Long-term exposure can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a major concern for those who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.
According to the EPA the EPA, it is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a range of different types of cancer such as esophageal or lung cancer.
Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for a long time, thanks to a former rail yard living near railroad tracks cancer their homes. They say the chemical has contaminated their homes and soil, and it continues to spread underground.
Harris County and Houston have joined forces to fight Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test regularly for contamination and take measures to prevent it from spreading.
In October of 2017 the group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote was a source of contamination in their soil and rad caused by railroad how to get a settlement significant health problems as a result of the former rail yard.
They are seeking damages from the railroad shoulder injury settlements - ucanalytics.com, to pay the costs of cleaning up and other related costs. They claim that they have been affected by environmental racism and discrimination as well as other forms of pollution that affected their families and themselves.
Dioxin
Dioxins are substances that do not break down quickly in the environment and they can stay in the soil, air, or sediment for a lengthy duration. They can come from many sources, including natural disasters, industrial accidents smoking cigarettes, and the incineration process of hazardous waste.
Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't identified but there is evidence that they can trigger serious illnesses like cancer. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked to increased risk of heart disease, organ cancers, immune problems, and endocrine disorders, including hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to hormonal issues, suppressed immunity, diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most frequent way people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking water or food. They aren't volatile nor water-soluble, therefore they are more easily absorbed by the body through the intake of meat, dairy products such as fish, as well as other seafood.
It is vital to remember, railroad asbestos settlement however, that exposure to dioxins can have a detrimental effect on your health, based on numerous factors like how much you consume, drink, and how often you breathe. It is also important to take into consideration your gender, age as well as your diet, nutritional status and family traits along with other health factors that can influence whether you will be affected by dioxins or not.
Additionally, the type of contaminant can be an important aspect. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more harmful than others for the health of humans. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote to have a negative effect on your health.
For instance, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They can also harm the immune system and cause problems with the development of healthy bones, teeth, and bones.
For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a string of cancer deaths that has been tied to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their neighborhoods. The city's health department announced Friday that it had discovered cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples from the rail yard. The release said that the findings were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to sue Union Pacific over the matter and that a plan presented to Texas environmental regulators will not be sufficient in light of the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for over 60 years. After being proven to cause cancer and inhibit the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.
PCBs can contaminate soil as well as water and air in many parts of the world once they are released into the environment. They are extremely binders to organic matter and tend to be persistent and therefore, are easily transported and accumulated in the environment.
PCBs are a major problem for the protection of the environment and public health. The EPA considers them to be a possible human carcinogen and has proved that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Additionally certain studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly relevant for opendata-ajuntament.barcelona.cat children who are exposed to these chemicals during the womb.
The main route of exposure to PCBs is through food. Because they are the highest in PCBs, fish is the main source of exposure. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products, and other agricultural products.
Another way to be exposed PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that is contaminated with PCBs. This could be due to spills or leaks that may occur in electrical and other equipment.
Similar to this, people may be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or through their skin. These chemicals can cause the condition known as Chloracne. This is a tiny pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that may last for weeks or even years.
The effects of PCBs on the health of humans aren't fully understood. Some researchers have suggested they could cause liver or biliary tract cancers in humans, but more studies are needed to understand how did railroads encourage settlement of the west this affects us.
EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns, like lower birth weight. Low birth weight has been linked to 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 that is found in many products, including pipes, paints, and food cans. It can be absorbed by the body via two main routes: oral and respiratory.
It is a strong antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals in the surrounding. This can lead to its accumulation within the body. This can lead to serious health problems such as cancer and other ailments.
Houston residents who reside near the Union Pac Railroad's creosote facility have a high rate of cancer. The city has requested the federal government's assistance in cleaning up the railroad's contaminated site.
Union Pacific railroad cancer settlement amounts has a history of having contaminated its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. Residents claim that the railroad has been working to remove the contamination but the proposal submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not enough.
Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is among the most severe effects of the contamination. A recent study conducted by the health department has revealed that the concentration of creosote in soil samples from the rail yard is higher than the recommended level for drinking water.
Another reason to be concerned is that creosote is slowly disappearing into the air. As it escapes, it is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which are toxic for both children and adults.
It is also possible that vapors are causing cancers in the people who breathe the vapors. To find out more about the effects of the vapors in the lives of residents the neighborhood, a door-to-door survey being done in the neighborhood.
This is a serious issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It's a pity and it should be taken care of immediately.
A recent study by the Department of State Health Services found that children living near railroad tracks cancer in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a form leukemia at five times higher rate than expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these areas than in other areas of Texas.