The Infrequently Known Benefits To Railroad Workers

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 remove an underground plume of creosote at its contaminated rail yard. And now, the latest tests show the contamination could continue to affect those who live nearby.

Researchers believe it could 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 and adult pelvis and kidney cancers in the region around the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is a common chemical employed in the treatment of wood. It can also cause cancer in people who are exposed to it.

It is a thick, oily substance that is amber or black in color and has a smoky odor and a burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been in use for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.

It is utilized in the United States to treat railroad tieways, as well as other kinds of woods, such as fence posts, utility poles, and pilings for marine structures. It can also be used to protect log homes and other structures against rot and insect infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares that creosote could be a hazardous chemical. When exposed to creosote, even for short periods can cause irritation to the eyes and skin, chemical burns stomach discomfort, burning of the mouth or throat, kidney or liver problems and even permanent damage.

Exposure for long periods can lead to skin and scrotum cancer. This is a serious issue for workers who have direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

According to the EPA, it is a probable human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked to a number 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 decades, thanks to an old rail yard located near their homes. They say the chemical has contaminated their homes and soil and continues to spread throughout the underground.

The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the lawsuit against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination regularly and take preventative measures to stop it from spreading.

In October 2017, a group comprised of Fifth Ward neighbors sued Union Pacific. They claim that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating the soil beneath their homes and is causing significant health issues.

They are seeking compensation for their diseases and suffering as well as damages from the railroad for the cost of cleaning and other associated costs. They claim that they have been harmed by environmental racism and discrimination in addition to other kinds of pollution that have impacted them and their families.

Dioxin

Dioxins are chemicals that do not degrade quickly in the environment, and can remain in the air, water, soil or sediment for a lengthy period of. They can be found in a variety places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes and incineration and hazardous waste.

Although  Railroad Cancer Lawyer  of dioxin on health at low levels aren't identified yet, there is evidence suggesting that they can trigger serious illnesses , such as cancer. Dioxin levels that are higher have been linked with an increased risk for heart disease, organ cancers immune disorders, and endocrine issues like hormonal imbalances. They can also cause hormonal problems, suppressed immunity womenstrual issues, diabetes and weight loss.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the most frequent way that people are exposed is through water and food. They aren't water-soluble or volatile, so they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of meat, dairy products, fish or other seafood.

It is crucial to keep in mind, however, that exposure to dioxins can have a detrimental effect on your health, depending on many factors like how much you drink, eat and the frequency you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your age, gender, diet, nutritional status and family traits, as well as other health factors that can affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.

In addition, the type of contaminant is another important factor. According to the EPA certain toxins are more dangerous than others to the health of humans. Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs are more likely than creosote have a negative effect on your health.

PCBs can cause damage to eyes and kidneys, liver, and kidneys. They can also harm the immune system of the person and hinder the growth of healthy teeth and bones.

For years, residents of Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have been complaining about a cluster of cancer-related deaths which has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, which is located near their neighborhoods. The announcement released on Friday by Houston's health department claimed that it had found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples near the rail yard. The announcement said that 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 be sufficient.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. PCBs were banned in 1979 after being proven to cause cancer, weaken the immune system and inhibit learning.

When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water in many areas of the world. They are strong binders for organic matter, and are easily transported and accumulated into the environment.

PCBs are a major problem for protecting the environment and public health. They are considered a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been proven to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Certain studies also link PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially applicable to children who have been exposed to these chemicals in the womb.

The primary route of exposure to PCBs is through food. Fish is the most common 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 way to be exposed. This could be due to leaks or spills in electrical and other equipment.

People may also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through skin contact. These chemicals can cause the condition known as chloracne which is small, pale, yellow skin lesions that can last from a few weeks to a few years.

The effects of PCBs upon human health are not completely comprehended. Some researchers have suggested they may cause liver and the biliary tract cancers among humans, however more studies are needed to determine what this means for us.

EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals may cause birth defects in newborns, such as low birth weight. Low birth weight has been linked to Type II diabetes, insulin resistance and high blood pressure and later-life cardiovascular disease. Two studies found that children born with higher levels PCBs in their cord blood were born with lower birth weights and/or an earlier age.

Lead

Railroad Cancer Lawyer  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 through two major pathways: oral and respiratory.

It is an extremely oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals found in the environment. This could cause it to build up in the body , and could lead to serious health problems such as cancer and other ailments.

Houston residents who live near to the Union Pacific Railroad's legacy creosote plant have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked for the federal government's help in cleaning up the railroad's toxic site.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of having its rail yard contaminated in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals for humans, such as creosote. The company has tried to clean up the contamination, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not enough, residents say.

One of the biggest problems that resulted from the contamination is the groundwater plume beneath homes in the area. A recent study conducted by health officials has revealed that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain an increased amount of creosote than is recommended for drinking water.

Another concern is that the creosote is slowly escaping into the air. As it escapes, it is causing residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which are dangerous for children and adults.

It is also possible that the gases are causing cancers in those who breathe the vapors. A door-to-door health assessment is being conducted in the neighborhood to learn more about how the vapors impact the lives of the residents.

This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. It's a pity and it should be resolved immediately.

A recent study by the Department of State Health Services found that children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods contracted a type of leukemia at a five-fold higher rate than expected.  Railroad Cancer  revealed that adult cancers were more prevalent in these areas than elsewhere in Texas.