Fifth Ward Residents Demand Action Against Cancer Concerns After 25 Years
- Residents in Houston's Fifth Ward have voiced their ongoing cancer concerns linked to decades of industrial pollution.
- Current EPA tests overseen in the area are revealing elevated levels of cancer-causing chemicals but results remain inconsistent.
- Community members express skepticism over government intervention and demand immediate, effective action.
In Houston's Fifth Ward, a significant environmental study is currently underway as the area has been designated a "cancer cluster" by state officials. Residents like Joe Ballard express their frustration, highlighting that many families have faced cancer-related health issues for generations. The neighborhood has a history of industrial pollution, stemming from the Southern Pacific wood treatment facility operations from 1911 to 1984, which has contributed to ongoing health concerns. EPA officials are overseeing soil and water vapor testing conducted by Union Pacific, revealing initial results with elevated levels of cancer-causing chemicals; however, the feedback from residents remains skeptical about the validity and seriousness of these findings. Houston city officials have proposed a program to buy out homes in the area, but this initiative is stalled pending final testing results. Local residents feel ignored and powerless, demanding more serious attention to their plight compared to better-resourced neighborhoods.