HOUSTON – The first batch of test results show elevated levels of toxic chemicals in the water and soil in Houston’s 5th Ward and Kashmere Gardens.
The Environmental Protection Agency is overseeing testing by Union Pacific after the area around the railyard was designated a cancer cluster.
Union Pacific took 117 samples from the soil, groundwater and sewers on private properties and shared, public areas.
5 out of 8 toxic chemicals tested in water exceed suitable levels
4 out of 6 toxic chemicals tested in soil exceed suitable levels
The EPA took 117 samples from the soil, groundwater and sewers on private properties and shared, public areas. The agency will meet with the community sometime in late April to go over the data they collected and answer questions. Their overall “vapor intrusion investigation” continues into the summer and they’ll give out more results when all their data is collected and analyzed. The first batch of data can be found here.
What is the Fifth Ward cancer cluster?
KPRC 2 has been covering the cancer cluster in Houston’s Fifth Ward for years. It has affected hundreds of families. Residents say their concerns span decades and they want Union Pacific Railroad leaders to do more to contain and remove creosote contamination at and around the old rail yard at Liberty and Lockwood. Neighbors also want the railroad to take responsibility for the health problems they say have been deadly and plagued their community for years.
Sandra Edwards is one of the neighbors calling for accountability. She’s been watching this investigation for years and was glad to hear the test results.
“You know, we’ve been all about it. We’ve been having these results in our hearts for years. So now that it’s out there, I’m glad that the public knows as well as we do what we’ve been up against,” Edwards, who also is experiencing health issues, said.
“Now this explains a whole lot of things that didn’t make sense at first, but we knew that it was happening. So now, it’s all coming together. It’s like the little pieces of the puzzle that was missing,” Edwards said. She doesn’t think anyone in the community will be surprised by the elevated levels of toxic chemicals being found, but says they did need the proof.
“We had no proof. Now the proof is here. The proof is there. Now, what can Union Pacific say? It shows that we were here. What we were saying all along was true.”
For years, rail crews cleaned rail ties at the site with creosote, which is a known cancer-causing chemical.
The issue now is whether the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality should approve Union Pacific’s permit proposal to clean up, which is a process that representatives from Union Pacific say already has been effective.
“The data shows that the community is not exposed to the contamination,” Kevin Pterburs with Union Pacific Railroad said.
Union Pacific’s proposal includes building a 3,400-foot-long underground barrier, which they say will stop the spread of contaminated water. They plan to also install more collection wells and continue monitoring and inspecting contamination caps.
But residents say that’s not enough. Dozens of residents said their relatives have died from cancer, which is proof, they say, the contaminant plume has spread.