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 the plume of underground pollution that has contaminated the rail yard. Now, the most recent tests show the contamination could continue to affect people who live nearby.
Researchers believe it is due to the high incidence of cancers in the region. Two years into a state health investigation and they found higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic Leukemia as well as adult kidney and pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote, a common chemical used to treat wood is also a very common one. It can cause cancer in people exposed to it.
It is a heavy oily substance which is black or amber in appearance and has a smoky smell and burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for over 150 years to preserve wood.
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 is also used to shield log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that creosote could be a risky chemical. The exposure to creosote over short periods can cause skin and eye irritation chemical burns, stomach pains, burning in the mouth or throat and liver or kidney problems, and even permanent damage.
Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum cancer. This is a significant concern for workers who have 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 range of cancers of various types including esophageal as well as lung cancer.
Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for a long time, thanks to the former rail yard that was located near 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 in the fight against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test regularly for contamination and to take measures to prevent it from spreading.
In October 2017, a group of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote had contaminated their soil and caused major health issues as a result of the former rail yard.
They are seeking damages from the railroad to help cover the cost of cleanup as well as other related costs. They claim that they have been affected by environmental racism discrimination, sexism, and other kinds of pollution that have affected their families as well as them.
Dioxin
Dioxins are substances which do not break down quickly in the environment and can remain in the soil, air, water or sediment for an extended period of time. They can be derived from various sources, including natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration of hazardous waste.
The health effects of dioxin are not clear at low levels, however there is evidence that suggests they can trigger cancer and other serious diseases. Higher levels of dioxin have been linked to an increased risk for heart disease, organ cancers immune issues, and endocrine issues like hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger reproductive issues, a weak immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues and hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts, known as chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most frequent way that people are exposed to the toxins is through water and food. They are not volatile or water-soluble, so they are more likely to be absorbed into the body through the consumption of dairy products, fish or other seafood.
However, it is important to keep in mind that the amount of exposure that will have negative effects on your health is dependent on numerous factors, including the amount you eat or drink, the frequency you consume alcohol or food, and how often you breathe. It is also important to consider your gender, age as well as your diet, nutritional status and family traits, as well as other health factors that can affect your risk of being affected by dioxins or not.
Furthermore, the kind of contaminant is an important factor. According to the EPA the EPA, certain toxins are more harmful than others for the health of humans. Polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs, are more likely than creosote affect your health.
For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They also can harm a person's immune system and hinder the growth of healthy teeth and bones.
Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years about cluster cancer deaths linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is right next to their homes. 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 the results weren't encouraging. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he's planning to sue Union Pacific over the matter and said that a proposal that he submitted to Texas environmental regulators isn't adequate given the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs, also referred to as polychlorinated biphenylsare harmful chemicals that have been in use for more than 60 years in industrial and consumer products. These substances were banned in 1979, after being proven to cause cancer, suppress the immune system, and hinder learning.
PCBs can contaminate soil and water as well as air in many areas of the world after they are released into the environment. They are strong binding agents of organic matter and can be easily transported and accumulated into the environment.
PCBs are a significant concern to protect the environment and public health. They are deemed to be a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Certain studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly the case for children exposed these chemicals in the womb.
PCBs are most often ingested through food items. Because they are the highest in PCBs fish is the most significant source of exposure. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products, and other agricultural products.
Another way to be exposed to PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is contaminated with PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills in electrical or other equipment.
People can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or through skin contact. These chemicals can cause a condition called chloracne, which is a small, pale yellow skin lesions which can last for weeks or even years.
The effects of PCBs upon human health are still not fully recognized. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However, more research is needed to determine how this impacts us.
EPA is also studying whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns, including lower birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with insulin resistance or Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease later in the course of. 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 highly toxic metal that can be present in a variety of products, such as paints, pipes, and food cans. Railroad Injury Settlement Amounts can be absorbed by the body via two main routes: oral and respiratory.
It is a powerful antioxidant and is prone to react with other chemicals in the environment. This can cause it to accumulate in the body and can cause serious health issues like cancer, among other ailments.
In Houston residents living close to a creosote-based treatment plant owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high incidence of cancer. The city has requested the federal government to instruct the railroad to remove its contaminated facility.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having its rail yard contaminated in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with chemicals that are carcinogenic for humans, such as creosote. Residents have claimed that the company has been working to clean up contamination but the plan presented to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.
One of the most significant issues that resulted due to the contamination is the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. A recent study conducted by the health department shows that the concentration of creosote found in soil samples from the rail yard is much higher than the recommended levels for drinking water.
Another issue is that the creosote is slowly dispersing 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 vapors are causing cancers in the residents who breathe the vapors. To learn more about the effect of the vapors on 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. This is a tragic situation and must be addressed immediately.
A recent study conducted by the Department of State Health Services found that children in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities contracted a type leukemia at a five times more frequently than was expected. The study also found that adult cancers were more common in these neighborhoods than in other areas of Texas.