Ward 5 cancer cluster: Initial study found no toxic levels of chemicals

New Soil Sampling Report in District 5 Disappoints Residents

After months of investigation in the Fifth District, one part of the study conducted by Union Pacific and the Environmental Protection Agency found that there were no toxic levels of chemicals in the area where a cancer cluster was discovered years ago. Residents of the Fifth District are very disappointed by these findings.

HOUSTON – After months of investigation in the Fifth District, one part of the study conducted by Union Pacific and the Environmental Protection Agency found that there were no toxic levels of chemicals in the area where a cancer cluster was discovered years ago.

Residents of the Fifth District are very disappointed by these findings, as they say they have been looking for answers for years. The cancer cluster was officially identified back in 2019, but is said to have originated decades ago.

CONNECTED: Fifth Ward Cancer Cluster: EPA Finds 41 Creosote-Related Chemicals in Surrounding Area

“It’s a trick, a lie,” said Fifth Ward resident Joe Ballard. “This is true. It’s disrespectful and they know it.”

The Environmental Protection Agency has so far only released the full results of background soil sampling. They sampled soil from 20 locations, including parks, bus stops, empty public spaces and the middle of roadways.

He was looking for the presence of creosote, a toxic chemical that was used at a facility that was once owned by Southern Pacific and later acquired by Union Pacific.

Results from an independent laboratory show that 14 of those locations had levels of the virus that did not exceed the EPA’s recommended screening guidelines. Six of them did, but the EPA says the results showed no risk to anyone’s health.

“It’s dismissive because after it’s over, they leave and go back to Dallas and we still have all the contamination problems we’ve always had,” Kathy Bluford-Daniels said after Thursday’s community meeting.

However, this investigation is not complete.

Get news, weather and more with the new FOX LOCAL app.

We are still awaiting results from residential testing, which Union Pacific says will be completed by November 15th.

Steam penetration studies are also being carried out. This is when chemicals from the soil or groundwater evaporate and accumulate inside buildings.

The Environmental Protection Agency says sampling has been completed, but does not provide a timeline for when results will be available.