Cancer clusters include the San Jacinto River Waste Pit Superfund Site and many sources of water in Harris County, Houston and mud.
Harris County, Texas — The Texas Health and Environment Alliance (THEA) continues to monitor cancer clusters in East Harris County on the flood plain of the San Jacinto River.
Cancer clusters are geographical areas with a large number of cancer cases.
We first spoke about the cluster in February when the Texas Department of Health asked to study cancer cases around the area. This study showed that 330,000,000 people live in the cluster.
At a community meeting scheduled for April 21, health officials are expected to discuss cancer rates in the area. A news release from Thea found that a DSHS study evaluated 29 cancers and differed in incidence of leukemia, lymphoma, lung and bronchi, and cervical cancer.
Cancer clusters include the San Jacinto River Waste Pit Superfund Site and many water sources in Harris County, Houston and the city’s utility districts.
“I’m concerned that the state specifically pointed out that they are looking at the types of cancer in the flood plains of the San Jacinto River. We know that these locations, these areas, are repeatedly flooded from the floods in that river,” one Shia member said.
At Tuesday’s community meeting, speakers asked the state to look at 22 different types of cancers, including people of all ages and children, as part of their research.
“So, with this huge area of Harris County designated as a cancer cluster, what do you know about this area?” asked a member of the Shire. “What do you have in common? Are you right? Because I’m sick and my neighbor is sick, what do we share? Air, land, water.”
Khou 11 also learned that there are several planned housing developments for over 10,000 homes in its cancer cluster.
Another community meeting is scheduled for April 21st at Crosby Community Centre at 6pm.
