Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan has secured the approval of the Texas Department of Health and Human Services to take the next step in determining if creosote contamination in northeast Houston has caused cancer among residents there.

Texas Health Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt has told Ryan that his agency will move forward with a feasibility study to determine if an epidemiological review of the associations between specific cancers and environmental contaminates should be conducted.

In his January 15 letter to Dr. Hellerstedt, County Attorney Ryan explained that Harris County had recently became aware of a cancer cluster study conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) that examined the occurrence of cancer in areas of Houston, including the Greater Fifth Ward, Denver Harbor, Trinity Gardens, and Kashmere Gardens, four of Houston and Harris County's most historic and underserved communities. That study found an increase in the rates of lung, esophagus, and larynx cancers in those communities between 2000 and 2016.

“Directly in the middle of the cancer cluster is a former wood treatment facility currently owned by the Union Pacific Railroad Company,” County Attorney Ryan said, “which used chemicals, such as creosote, a known carcinogen. This property is plagued by soil and groundwater contamination, which includes a contaminated groundwater plume that extends into the adjacent residential properties. We are concerned that the plume is not stable nor is it properly delineated.”

Hellerstedt told Ryan that DSHS will put together a panel of experts in epidemiology, oncology, and toxicology and will include a citizen to represent the affected communities. The first meeting will take place within the next ten weeks to discuss the feasibility of an epidemiological study of the association between the creosote and cancers in the communities. If this group determines the study to be feasible, then it will outline the design of the study and resources needed.

Harris County Commissioners Court in December approved a request from Ryan to hire an expert to investigate the Union Pacific site and to file a lawsuit if necessary to ensure the safety of the community.

“This site poses a potential threat to the environment, health, and welfare of the people of Harris County,” said Ryan. “We will do everything necessary to protect our residents and this study is the first step forward. I am grateful to Dr. Hellerstedt for reviewing this critical matter.”