Renate Dallachy спросил 2 года назад
Union Pacific Houston Cancer — Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
For decades, Union Pacific Houston Cancer neighbors in Houston’s Fifth Ward have argued the company hasn’t done enough to remove the creosote sludge that is buried at its contaminated rail yard. The latest tests have shown that contamination could still be impacting residents living near.
Researchers believe it is due to the high rate of cancers that are found in the area. Two years into a health inspection by the state the researchers found higher than anticipated rates of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia and adult renal and kidney pelvis cancers within the communities 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 who are exposed to it.
It is a heavy oily substance, from amber to black in color. It has a smokey scent and a burnt taste. It is a coal tar distillation product that has been in use for over 150 years as a wood preservative.
In the United States, it is used to treat Railroad Workers Cancer ties as well as other types of wood, including fence posts, utility poles and marine pilings. It is also used to guard log homes and other structures against the effects of rot and insect invasion.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote is potentially dangerous chemical. Short-term exposure can cause eye and skin irritation chemical burns stomach pain and burning in the mouth or throat, and kidney or liver problems.
Long-term exposure may cause skin and scrotum cancer. Workers who come into direct contact with it during wood treatment and other manufacturing processes are susceptible to cancer.
It is regarded as a possible human carcinogen, according to the EPA. It has been linked with a variety 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 due to an old rail yard close to their homes. They claim that the chemical has contaminated their homes and soil, and it continues to spread underground.
The city of Houston and Harris County have joined the campaign to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They want the company to test regularly for contamination , and take steps to prevent it from spreading.
In October 2017 a group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific. They claim that creosote contaminated their soil and caused major health problems from the former rail yard.
They are seeking compensation for their illnesses and suffering as well as damages from the railroad for the cost of cleanup and other associated costs. They claim they have been harmed by environmental racism, discrimination, and other types of pollution that has affected their families as well as them.
Dioxin
Dioxins are chemical compounds that don’t break down in environment quickly . They can be left in the air, water soil or sediment for long periods. They can be found in a variety places such as natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarettes, and incineration or hazardous waste.
The effects of dioxin on health are not clear at low levels, however there is evidence that suggests they can trigger cancer and other serious illnesses. Dioxin levels that are higher are linked to a higher risk for heart disease, organ cancers, immune problems, and endocrine issues, including hormonal imbalances. They can also trigger hormonal issues, suppressed immunity as well as diabetes, menstrual problems and weight loss.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the most common method people are exposed to dioxin is through drinking or eating. They are not volatile or water-soluble, therefore they are more easily absorbable by the body via the intake of meat, dairy products, fish, and other seafood.
It is nevertheless important to remember that the level of exposure that could have detrimental effects on your health depends on numerous factors, including the amount of food you consume or drink, how often you drink or eat and the amount of air you breathe. It is also crucial to take into consideration your age, gender as well as your diet, nutritional status and family traits and other health factors that could determine whether you’ll be affected by dioxins or not.
In addition, the type of contaminant can be an important aspect. According to the EPA the EPA, certain toxins are more harmful than others for human health. For instance, polychlorinated benzene (PCBs) are more likely to have a negative impact on your health than creosote.
For example, PCBs can damage a person’s eyes, kidneys, and liver. They can also damage the immune system and cause problems with the development of healthy teeth, bones and bones.
Houston’s Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighbors have complained for years of cluster cancer deaths linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is located close to their homes. The city’s health department announced on Friday that it found cancer-causing chemicals in surface samples around the rail yard. The release 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 proposed plan by Texas environmental regulators won’t suffice.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for over 60 years. After being found to cause cancer and inhibit the immune system These chemicals were banned in 1979.
PCBs can contaminate soil as well as water and air in many parts of the world after they are released into the environment. They bind strongly to organic matter and tend to remain in the environment for a long time and therefore, are easy to transport and build up in the environment.
Therefore, PCBs are a major threat for the protection of public health and the environment. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA and have been demonstrated to cause cancer in lab animals.
Furthermore, some studies have found a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is especially relevant for children who are exposed to these chemicals while pregnant.
The most common route for exposure to PCBs is through food. Fish is the most common source of exposure because they contain the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also found in beef, dairy products and other agricultural products.
Another way to be exposed PCBs is through drinking and showering with water that is infected with PCBs. This could be due to leaks or spills that can occur in electrical and other equipment.
Similarly, people can also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through the skin. These chemicals can trigger a condition called Chloracne. This is a mild pale, yellow-colored skin lesions that can last for weeks to years.
However, the effects of PCBs on human health are not yet fully understood. Researchers have suggested that they may cause biliary and liver cancers in humans. However, more research is needed to discover how this affects us.
EPA has also been investigating whether these chemicals could cause birth defects in newborns, such as lower birth weight. The low birth weight of newborns has been associated with Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and later-life cardiovascular disease. 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 toxic metal that can be present in a variety of products like paints pipes, and food cans. It can be absorbed by the body via two main pathways: the respiratory and oral.
It is a strong chemical that oxidizes and reacts with other chemicals present in your environment. It is able to accumulate in the body, and can lead to serious health issues such as cancer and other illnesses.
In Houston residents living near a creosote legacy treatment plant owned by the Union Pacific Railroad have a high risk of developing cancer. The city has asked the federal government for an order to the railroad to remove its toxic site.
Union Pacific Railroad has a long history of having affected its Fifth Ward rail yard and Kashmere Garden neighborhood with chemicals that can cause cancer. 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.
Groundwater plume below the homes in the affected area is one of the most dangerous consequences of the contamination. A recent study by health officials has shown that soil samples from the rail yard have an increased amount of creosote than the recommended amount for drinking water.
Another reason to be concerned is that the creosote is slowly escaping into the air. It causes residents to breathe toxic levels of vapors which can be fatal for both children and adults.
It is also possible that vapors are causing cancers in the people who breathe them in. A door-to door health survey is being carried out in the neighborhood to learn more about how the vapors are impacting the lives of the residents.
This is a major issue for the Fifth Ward communities and Kashmere Gardens. It is a sad situation and should be dealt with immediately.
A Department of State Health Services study discovered that leukemia rates were five times higher among children living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods than was anticipated. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in the neighborhoods than elsewhere in Texas.
