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 clean up creosote-laden creosote plume that was at its contaminated rail yard. Recent tests have revealed that the contamination could be affecting residents living nearby.
Researchers believe it could be related to the elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years into a state-wide health investigation they discovered higher than expected rates of childhood leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in neighborhoods surrounding the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is a chemical commonly employed in the treatment of wood. It can also cause cancer in those who are exposed to it.
It is a dense oily substance, ranging from amber to black in color. It has a smokey smell and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been used for over 150 years as an ingredient in wood preservative.
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 is also used to guard log structures and homes from the effects of rot and insect invasion.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Creosote, according to the EPA, is a potentially dangerous chemical. When exposed to creosote, even for short periods of time can cause skin and eye irritation and chemical burns, stomach discomfort, burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems and even permanent damage.
Long-term exposure can lead to skin and scrotum carcinomas. 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 known human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to several cancers, including esophageal as well as lung cancer.
Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades due to an old rail yard located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has contaminated their homes, soil and is spreading underground.
Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. Railroad Injury Settlement Amounts are requesting that the company tests regularly for contamination and to take steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
In October of 2017, a group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. Railroad Workers claim that creosote that was emitted from the former rail yard is contaminating soil beneath their homes and causing serious health problems.
They are seeking compensation from the railroad to pay the cost of cleanup as well as other related costs. They claim that they have been suffering from environmental racism and discrimination and other kinds of pollution that have impacted them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemicals that do not break down quickly in the environment, and they can be found in the soil, air, water or in sediment for a long time. They can be found in a variety of places, including natural disasters and industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration as well as hazardous waste.
Although the effects of dioxin on health in low concentrations aren't yet known but there is evidence that they can trigger serious diseases like cancer. Higher levels of dioxin are linked to a higher risk for organ cancers, heart disease, immune problems, and endocrine problems, including hormonal imbalances. They can also cause reproductive problems, a depressed immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues, weight loss, hair growth and facial cysts known as chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most common method that people are exposed dioxin is through drinking water or food. They aren't volatile nor water-soluble, therefore they are more easily absorbable by the body via the intake of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.
However, it is important to remember that the level of exposure that could have adverse effects on your health is contingent upon several factors, such as the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you eat or drink and how much air you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender and age, as well as your nutrition and family characteristics to determine whether you will be exposed to dioxins.
Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is also an important aspect. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to have a damaging effect on human health than others. Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs, are more likely than creosote cause harm to your health.
PCBs can cause damage to eyes and liver, kidneys and kidneys. They can also damage the immune system and cause issues with the development of healthy bones, teeth, and bones.
For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a rash of cancer deaths that has been related to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their neighborhoods. The city's health department announced Friday that it found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The announcement said the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter and also said that a plan presented to Texas environmental regulators will not be adequate given the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been employed in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. PCBs were banned in 1979 following being proven to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and impair learning.
Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil in a variety of areas around the world. They are extremely binders to organic matter and tend to be persistent that means they are easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.
In the end, PCBs constitute a major risk for the protection of public health and the environment. The EPA considers them a probable carcinogen for humans and has proven that they can cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Some studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially relevant for children who have been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.
PCBs are mainly consumed through food. Since they are the most abundant in PCBs, fish is the main source of exposure. But, PCBs can also be found in dairy and beef and other agricultural products.
Another method of being exposed to PCBs is by drinking or showering with water that is infected with PCBs. This could be the result of leaks or spills that occur in electrical and other equipment.
Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or through their skin. These chemicals can cause an illness known as chloracne which is a tiny, pale skin lesions that can last from weeks to years.
However the effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely known. Some researchers have suggested they may cause liver and the biliary tract cancers in humans, however more research is needed to find out what this means for us.
EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals can cause birth defects for newborns, including low birth weight. A low birth weight has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. Two studies revealed that children born with higher levels of PCBs in their cord blood had lower birth weights or a later age.
Lead
Lead is a toxic metal that can be present in a variety of products, such as paints, pipes, and food cans. The body absorbs it via two routes: oral and respiratory.
It is a powerful chemical that can oxidize and react with other chemicals in your surroundings. This can cause it to accumulate within the body. This can lead to serious health problems like cancer, among other ailments.
Houston residents who live near the Union Pacific Railroad's creosote legacy plant have a high incidence of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in cleaning up the railroad's contaminated site.
Railroad Workers has a history in which it has caused harm to its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that could cause cancer. The company has tried to get rid of the contamination, but the plan submitted 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 severe consequences of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has found that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain higher levels of creosote than that recommended for drinking water.
Another issue is the slow release of creosote from the atmosphere. As it does, it is causing residents to breathe in dangerous levels of vapors that can be toxic for both children and adults.
It is also possible that gases are causing cancers in the people who breathe them in. To learn more about the impact of the vapors' effects on the lives of residents, a door-to-door survey is being conducted in the neighborhood.
This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It is a sad situation and must be resolved immediately.
A recent study by the Department of State Health Services found that children in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a form leukemia at a five times higher rate than expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhoods than they were elsewhere in Texas.