Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for decades that the company hasn't taken the necessary steps to clean the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. The latest tests have revealed that the contamination may continue to affect people who live nearby.
Researchers say it may be related to the elevated cancer rates in the region. Two years after launching an investigation across the state on health and a study by researchers, they found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the region around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is a chemical commonly used to treat wood. It can cause cancer in those who are exposed to it.
It is a thick oily substance that's black or amber-colored and has a smokey odor and burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been used for over 150 years as a wood preservative.
It is widely used in the United States to treat Railroad Injury Settlement Amounts tiesand other types of woods, such as fence posts, utility poles, and pilings for marine structures. It is also used to safeguard log homes and other structures from insects and rot infestation.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) creosote can be a potentially dangerous chemical. Exposure to creosote for brief periods may cause skin and eye irritation, chemical burns stomach pains, burning of the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.
Long-term exposure to the sun can cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a major concern for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.
According to the EPA, it is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a number of different cancer types such as esophageal or lung cancer.
Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for years due to the former rail yard that was located near their homes. They say the chemical has caused soil and homes to be contaminated, and it continues to spread throughout the underground.
Harris County and Houston have joined forces in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They are requesting that the company tests regularly for contamination and 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. They claim that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes and causing significant health issues.
They are seeking compensation for their illness and suffering as well as damages from the railroad to cover the cost of cleaning and other related costs. They claim they are affected by environmental racism and discrimination, in addition to other types of pollution that have affected their families and themselves.
Dioxin
Dioxins are a class of chemicals that don't break down quickly in the environment and they can stay in the soil, air, or sediment for a lengthy period of. They are found in a variety of places in natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.
Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels aren't yet known but there is evidence that they could cause serious illnesses , such as cancer. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked with an increased risk for organ cancers, heart disease immune issues, and endocrine issues, including hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal problems, suppressed immunity and diabetes, menstrual issues and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most prevalent way people are exposed is through food and water. They are not volatile and water-soluble, which means they are more easily taken in by the body through the intake of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.
However, it is crucial to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that can have detrimental effects on your health depends on various factors, Union Pacific Houston Cancer including the amount you eat or drink, how often you drink or eat, and the amount of air you breathe. It is also crucial to consider your gender, age and nutrition status, as well as diet and family traits along with other factors in your health that could affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.
The kind of contaminant used is equally important. According to the EPA the EPA, certain toxins are more dangerous than others for human health. Polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs, are more likely than creosote cause harm to your health.
PCBs can cause damage to the eyes as well as the liver, kidneys and kidneys. They can also harm the immune system and cause problems with the growth of healthy bones, teeth, and bones.
For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a rash of Cancer Lawsuit-related deaths that has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is located near their neighborhoods. The city's health department said on Friday that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The release said that the results were "not encouraging." Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to sue Union Pacific over the matter, and said a plan that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators isn't sufficient in light of the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in both consumer and industrial products. These chemicals were banned in 1979 following being discovered to cause cancer, weaken the immune system, and impair learning.
PCBs can be harmful to soil or water as well as air in a variety of regions around the globe after they are released into the environment. They bind strongly to organic matter, and tend to remain in the environment for a long time which means they are easy to transport and accumulate in the environment.
This is why PCBs are a major concern for the protection of health and safety of people and the environment. The EPA is adamant that they are a carcinogen for humans and has proven that they can cause Cancer Lawsuit Settlements in laboratory animals.
In addition certain studies have linked PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly applicable to children who have been exposed to these chemicals while in the womb.
The most common route for exposure to PCBs is through food items. Fish is the main source of exposure since they contain the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in dairy products, beef, and other agricultural products.
Drinking and showering with PCB-contaminated water is another method of exposure. This can happen from spills or leaks that may be caused by electrical or other equipment.
Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing the air or through skin. These chemicals can cause the condition known as chloracne which is a tiny, pale, yellow skin lesions that can be present for a period of weeks or years.
The effects of PCBs upon the human body are not fully known. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However further research is required to determine how this affects us.
EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns, like low birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns is associated with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease later in life. In two studies, children 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 highly toxic metal that is found in many products, such as paints, pipes and food containers. The body absorbs it through two major routes: oral and Union Pacific Houston Cancer respiratory.
It is a powerful chemical that is oxidizing and can react with other chemicals present in your environment. It is able to accumulate in the body, which can lead to serious health issues, such as cancer and other ailments.
Houston residents who reside near the Union Pacific Railroad Workers's creosote facility are at a high risk of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's assistance in the cleanup of the railroad's contaminated facility.
The Union Pacific Railroad Cancer Settlements has a history of having its rail yard contaminated in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals to humans, including creosote. The company has been working to get rid of the mess, but a plan submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough residents believe.
One of the most significant problems that stemmed due to the contamination is the plume of groundwater that is located beneath homes in the area. A recent study conducted by health officials has shown that soil samples taken from the rail yard have higher levels of creosote than is recommended for drinking water.
Another major concern is that the creosote vapor is slowly escaping into the air. It is causing residents to inhale toxic levels of vapors, which could cause death for children as well as adults.
It is also possible that the fumes are causing cancers to the residents who are breathing the vapors in. A door-to door health survey is being carried out in the neighborhood to find out more about the effects of the vapors on the lives of the residents.
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 type leukemia that was five times more frequently than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in these areas than in other areas of Texas.
