Sally Madison спросил 12 месяцев назад
Union Pacific Houston Cancer — Is Creosote Still Affecting Houstonians?
Houston’s Fifth Ward neighbors have complained for years that the company hasn’t taken the necessary steps to clean up an underground plume contaminated rail yard. Now, the most recent tests suggest that the contamination could still be affecting those who live nearby.
Researchers believe that it could be due to the high number of cancers in the area. Two years after the launch of an investigation across the state on health, researchers found that there were higher than expected rates of childhood lymphoblastic and adult kidney and pelvis cancers in areas around the Union Pacific site.
Creosote
Creosote is one of the most common chemicals used to treat wood. It can cause cancer in people exposed to it.
It is a dense, oily substance that is black or amber-colored and has a smoky odor and burnt taste. It is a distillation of coal product that has been used for more than 150 years as a wood preservative.
It is utilized in the United States to treat railroad ties, as well as other types of woods, including fence posts, utility poles, and marine pilings. It can also be used to protect log homes and other structures from rot and insect infestation.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares that creosote could be a dangerous chemical. The exposure to creosote over short periods of time can cause skin and eye irritation chemical burns stomach pains, burning in the throat or mouth as well as liver or kidney problems, Union Pacific Houston Cancer and even permanent damage.
Long-term exposure could lead to skin and scrotum tumors. Workers who come in direct contact with it during wood treatment or other manufacturing processes are susceptible to cancer.
According to the EPA It is a likely human cancer-causing agent. It has been linked with many types of cancer such as esophageal cancer as well lung cancer.
Residents of Houston’s Fifth Ward neighborhood have been exposed to creosote over the years due to the former rail yard that was located near their homes. They claim that the chemical has affected their soil, homes and continues to spread underground.
The cities of Houston and Harris County have joined the initiative to sue Union Pacific in federal court. They would like the company to test regularly for contamination and to take measures to prevent it from spreading.
A group of Fifth Ward neighbors filed an action against Union Pacific in October of 2017. They claim that creosote had contaminated their soil, causing significant health problems from the former rail yard.
They are seeking compensation for their illnesses and suffering as well as damages from the Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Settlements to cover the cost of cleaning and other associated costs. They claim to have been affected by environmental racism and discrimination, as well as other types of pollution that has affected them and their families.
Dioxin
Dioxins are substances which do not break down quickly in the environment and they can remain in the soil, air, water or sediment for a long period of. They are found in a variety places in natural disasters, industrial accidents, cigarette smoke and incineration, as well as hazardous waste.
Although the effects of dioxin on health at low levels aren’t yet known, there is evidence that they can cause serious diseases like cancer. Higher levels of dioxin are linked to a higher risk for organ cancers, heart disease immune disorders, and endocrine issues including hormonal imbalances. They can also lead to reproductive problems, a suppressed immune system, menstrual and diabetes issues hair growth, weight loss and facial cysts called chloracne.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) the most prevalent way people are exposed is through water and food. They are not volatile and water-soluble, so they are easily absorbed by the body through the consumption of meat, dairy products fish, and other seafood.
However, it is important to remember that the amount of exposure that will have a harmful effect on your health depends on numerous factors, including the amount you eat or drink, how often you drink or eat, 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 factors in your health that could affect whether you are affected by dioxins or not.
In addition, the form of contaminant is also an important aspect. The EPA says that some toxins are more likely to cause harm effect on human health than others. 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 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 a long time about cluster cancer deaths linked to the Union Pacific rail yard. The yard is close to their homes. The announcement made by the city’s health department said that it had identified cancer-causing chemicals in surfaces near the rail yard. The release stated that the results were not a good sign. Mayor Sylvester Turner told FOX 26 that he plans to sue Union Pacific over the matter and also said that a plan presented to Texas environmental regulators isn’t adequate given the findings.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are harmful chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for more than 60 years. They were banned in 1979 following they were found to cause cancer, inhibit the immune system, and impair learning.
When released into the environment, PCBs contaminate air, water, and soil across the world. They bind tightly to organic matter and tend to be persistent which means they are simple to transport and accumulate in the environment.
PCBs are a major concern for protecting the environment as well as public health. They are classified as a probable human carcinogen by EPA, and have been proven to cause cancer in lab animals.
Some studies also show a link between PCBs to birth defects in children. This is particularly the case for children who’ve been exposed to these chemicals while in the womb.
PCBs are most commonly consumed through food items. Fish is the main source of exposure, since they are the source of the most PCBs. However, PCBs can also be found in beef and dairy and other agricultural products.
Showering and drinking PCB-contaminated water is another way to be exposed. This can happen from leaks or spills that could occur in electrical and other equipment.
People may also be exposed to PCBs through breathing in air or through skin contact. These chemicals can trigger the condition known as chloracne which is a tiny, pale yellow skin lesions which can last from weeks to years.
However, the effects of PCBs on the human body are not completely known. Some researchers have suggested that they could cause liver or biliary tract cancers in humans, but more research is needed to find out how this impacts us.
EPA is also investigating whether these chemicals cause birth defects in newborns, including less weight at birth. Low birth weight has been linked 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 poisonous metal and is found in many products, including paints, pipes and food cans. The body can absorb it through two main routes: oral and respiratory.
It is a strong antioxidant and can react with other chemicals in the environment. This can lead to its accumulation in the body , and could cause serious health issues like cancer and other illnesses.
Houston residents who live near the Union Pacific Cancer Cluster Pacific Railroad Cancer Lawyer‘s creosote legacy plant have a high rate of cancer. The city has asked for assistance from the federal government in the cleanup of the railroad’s contaminated site.
The Union Pacific Railroad Cancer Lawyer 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. The railroad has been trying to remove the contamination, but the plan presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality isn’t enough residents say.
One of the major problems that resulted from the contamination was the groundwater plume that runs beneath the homes in the region. A recent study conducted by the health department has shown that the amount of creosote that is present in soil samples from the rail yard is much higher than the recommended level for drinking water.
Another issue is that creosote is slowly disappearing into the air. It is causing residents to inhale toxic levels of vapors which can be fatal for both children and adults.
It is also possible that the vapors are causing cancers in the people who breathe the vapors. To learn more about the impact of the vapors’ effects on the lives of residents an in-depth survey of the residents is being done in the neighborhood.
This is a major problem for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden communities. This is a tragic situation and should 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 higher rate than the average. The study also found that adult cancers were more prevalent in these areas than elsewhere in Texas.
