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Union Pacific Houston Cancer - Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?

Houston's Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn’t done enough to clean up an underground plume contaminated rail yard. And now, the most recent tests have revealed that the contamination may still be affecting people who live near.

Researchers believe it could be related to elevated cancer rates in the area. Two years after the launch of an investigation into health issues across the state Researchers found that there were higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in the area surrounding the Union Pacific site.

Creosote

Creosote is one of the most common chemicals used to treat wood. It can cause cancer in those who are exposed to it.

It is a heavy oily substance, from amber to black in color. It has a smoky scent and a bitter taste. It is a distillation of coal product and has been in use for over 150 years as a wood preservative.

In the United States, it is used to treat railroad ties and other kinds of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It can also be used to protect log homes and other structures from rot and infestation.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that creosote may be a risky chemical. When exposed to creosote, even for short periods of time can cause irritation to the eyes and skin chemical burns, stomach pains, burning in the throat or mouth and liver or kidney issues, and even permanent damage.

Long-term exposure can lead to skin and scrotum cancers. This is a serious concern for workers who are in direct contact with it during wood treatment or in other manufacturing processes.

It is regarded as a possible human carcinogen, according to the EPA. It has been linked with a variety of different types of cancer including esophageal and lung cancer.

Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote for decades due to an old rail yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has contaminated their homes, soil and continues to spread underground.

Harris County and Houston have joined the effort against Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test for contamination regularly and take preventative measures to prevent the spread.

A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote from the former rail yard is contaminating soil under their homes and causing serious health issues.

They are seeking compensation from the railroad in order to cover the cost of cleanup and other related costs. They claim they have been harmed by racism in the environment, discrimination, and other forms of pollution that affected their families as well as them.

Dioxin

Dioxins are substances that don't break down quickly in the environment and they can be found in the air, water, or in sediment for a long period of. They can come from many sources, including natural catastrophes, industrial accidents, smoking cigarettes, and the incineration process of hazardous waste.

Although the health effects of dioxin in low concentrations aren't yet known, there is evidence that they could cause serious illnesses such as cancer. Patients who are exposed at higher levels are believed to be at risk of heart disease, organ cancers immune system problems, and endocrine issues, such as hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive issues, a weak immune system, menstrual issues and diabetes and hair loss, weight gain and facial cysts, known as chloracne.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most common way people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking water or food. They are not volatile or water-soluble, so they are more likely to be taken into the body via the consumption of dairy products or fish and other seafood.

However, it is crucial to remember that the level of exposure that can have a harmful effect on your health is contingent upon various factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, the frequency you eat or drink and how much air 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 affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.

Additionally, the type of contaminant is another important aspect. According to the EPA there are some toxins that are more dangerous than others for human health. For instance, polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are more likely to have a detrimental impact on your health than creosote.

For example, PCBs can damage a person's eyes, kidneys and liver. They also can harm a person's immune system and interfere with the growth of healthy teeth and bones.

For years, neighbors in Houston's Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens have complained about a string of cancer-related deaths that has been linked to the Union Pacific rail yard, that is right next to their homes. The city's health department reported on Friday that it had found cancer-causing substances in surface samples of the rail yard. The release stated that the findings 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. After being proven to cause cancer and weaken the immune system PCBs were banned in 1979.

Once released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, soil, and water throughout the world. They are strong binders for organic matter that can be easily transported and then accumulated in the environment.

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

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

PCBs are most commonly consumed through food items. Because they are the highest in PCBs, fish is the main source of exposure. However, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.

Showering and drinking water is another way to be exposed. This can be caused by leaks or spills that occur in electrical or other equipment.

People may also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in the air or through skin contact. These chemicals can trigger a condition called Chloracne. This is a tiny pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last from weeks to years.

The effects of PCBs upon human health are not fully recognized. Researchers have suggested that they could cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However further research is required to determine how this impacts us.

EPA has also been examining 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, high blood pressure, and later-life cardiovascular diseases. 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 and is found in a wide range of products, including paints, pipes and food containers. The body can absorb it through two major routes: oral and respiratory.

It is a potent oxidizing agent and tends to react with other chemicals present in the environment. It can build up in the body, and could cause serious health problems like cancer and other diseases.

In Houston the residents who live near a legacy creosote treatment plant run by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked the federal government to instruct the railroad to clean its contaminated facility.

The Union Pacific Railroad has a history of polluting its rail yard in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhood with carcinogenic chemicals for humans, such as creosote. Residents claim that the company has been working to get rid of the pollution, but the plan that was submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was not sufficient.

The groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the affected area is one of the most grave effects of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has shown that soil samples taken from the rail yard contain higher levels of creosote than what is required for drinking water.

Another issue is that the creosote is slowly dispersing into the air. As  railroad shoulder injury settlements  escapes, it causes residents to breathe dangerous levels of vapors, which are toxic for both children and adults.

It is possible that the vapors cause cancer among those who breathe them. A door-to-door health survey is being carried out in the neighborhood to understand how the vapors are impacting the lives of the residents.

This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a tragic situation that must be dealt with immediately.

A Department of State Health Services study found that leukemia rates were five times higher for children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens areas than was expected. The study also revealed that adult cancers were more frequent in the neighborhood than they were elsewhere in Texas.