Residents of Houston's Fifth Ward experience serious health issues due to longstanding creosote pollution.
Siri Chilukuri reports for Grist.
In short:
- Creosote contamination in Houston's historically Black Fifth Ward has been linked to numerous health problems, including cancer.
- The city has initiated a $5 million plan to relocate residents from the toxic area, with more funding required to cover all affected households.
- Advocacy and calls for responsibility have led to Union Pacific's collaboration with the EPA to assess and address the ongoing risks.
Key quote:
"We didn't ask to be contaminated. We didn't go over there bothering Union Pacific. Union Pacific bothered us."
— Leisa Glenn, president of IMPACT
Why this matters:
Creosote, a likely human carcinogen used historically for treating wooden railroad ties, has been linked to higher than normal cancer rates in both adults and children in the Fifth Ward. The contamination has prompted legal agreements requiring Union Pacific to investigate and clean up the site, under the oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency. Residents have long fought for this cleanup, concerned about ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals.
Be sure to read: Life on the Houston Fifth Ward’s plume.
Unfortunately, the situation in Houston's Fifth Ward isn't the only instance of environmental injustice facing Houston-area residents.
