No connection found between Fifth Ward cancer clutter and chemicals used by railway, said Texas Health Department.
Union Pacific has countered claims of a cancer cluster in northeast Houston's Kashmere Gardens area, as per the recent findings from the Texas Health Department. In response to a 2022 City of Houston report suggesting that chemicals previously used by the rail company were causing a cancer crisis, Union Pacific has asserted that there are no cancer concerns according to the Texas Health Department's evaluation.
However, residents in the Kashmere Gardens community remain skeptical despite these findings. Numerous individuals have reported cancer diagnoses and losses of family members to the disease, all potentially linked to the alleged chemical contamination. Some of these personal stories include individuals suffering from lung cancer, esophageal cancer, COPD, and other related health issues.
The City of Houston's 2022 study points to chemicals utilized by Union Pacific in treating railway ties many years ago, which are believed to have seeped into the soil and water, potentially causing the high incidence of cancer cases and fatalities in the area. Residents have expressed their frustration and grief over the situation, with an overwhelming number of funerals becoming a grim reality.
Union Pacific's stance is based on the Texas Health Department's study, which examined the same soil samples as the city's report. According to the department's findings, there is no established link between the soil contaminants and adverse health effects. However, the study acknowledges certain limitations, such as limited soil samples taken at a single point in time and the need to accurately assess individual exposure to the chemicals.
Despite Union Pacific's claims and the Texas Health Department's findings, the Houston mayor's office remains unconvinced, asserting that the higher prevalence of cancer cases and fatalities in Kashmere Gardens is undeniable when compared to other areas in the city.
In response to ongoing concerns, Union Pacific has announced its intention to seek permission from property owners to collect soil samples from yards to further investigate contamination and initiate cleanup efforts.
德克萨斯州卫生部表示，未发现第五区的癌症爆发与铁路公司使用的化学物质有关
联合太平洋公司已反驳了关于休斯顿卡什米尔花园东北部地区癌症群集的说法，根据德克萨斯州卫生部的最新研究结果。针对2022年休斯顿市的一份报告，该报告表明铁路公司以前使用的化学物质导致了癌症危机，联合太平洋公司坚称，根据德克萨斯州卫生部的评估，不存在癌症问题。
然而，卡什米尔花园社区的居民对这些发现仍然持怀疑态度。尽管有关部门的研究结果，但许多人报告了他们自己或家人因癌症而受到影响，所有这些可能都与所称的化学物质污染有关。其中一些个人故事包括患有肺癌、食道癌、COPD和其他相关健康问题的个体。
休斯顿市的2022年研究指出，联合太平洋公司多年前用于处理铁路道枕的化学物质，被认为已渗入土壤和水中，可能导致该地区癌症病例和死亡率的高发生。居民对此情况表示了沮丧和悲伤，随之而来的大量葬礼成为了一种令人沮丧的现实。
联合太平洋公司的立场基于德克萨斯州卫生部的研究，该研究检查了与市政府报告相同的土壤样本。根据该部门的研究结果，没有建立土壤污染物与不良健康效应之间的关联。但该研究承认存在某些限制，如仅在一次时间点获取有限的土壤样本，以及需要准确评估个人对这些化学物质的暴露。
尽管联合太平洋公司的声明和德克萨斯州卫生部的研究结果，休斯顿市长办公室仍然表示怀疑，坚称卡什米尔花园地区的癌症病例和死亡率高于城市其他地区是不容否认的事实。
为了回应持续存在的担忧，联合太平洋公司宣布打算寻求业主的许可，收集庭院的土壤样本，以进一步调查污染并启动清理工作。
Alice Tao 报道
