He asked THEA to conduct in-depth studies on the health of residents of Kashmiri Gardens and the Fifth Zone.

The state issued a press release Thursday asking the Texas Health and Environmental Alliance (THEA) to conduct in-depth studies on the health of residents living in Cashmere Gardens and the Fifth Ward.

Ronald Harden, 59, grew up in the Fifth Ward, not far from the Union Pacific Railroad. Earlier this month, Harden, like many members of his family, was diagnosed with cancer.

“My mom died here of cancer,” Harden said. “She came out here with one of her kidneys. She died of leukemia. My brother lost both his kidneys. On the third of October I am going to have one of my kidneys removed from this cancer.”

Harden has kidney cancer. He said he believes living near Railyard may have contributed to his illness.

“We played in that water when it was flooding. You can see the rainbow floating in the water. They are the chemicals that come out of them.

On Friday, Harden and several community members stood with THEA in calling for the Texas Department of State Health Services to conduct more studies on community health.

“On September 21st, the Houston Health Department released data showing that dioxin was found in every one of the 47 soil samples they collected around the Union Pacific Railroad, and more than a quarter of the samples had dioxin levels above the EPA’s limit. Risk-based treatment standards for childhood cancer,” said Jackie Medcalf, Founder and Executive Director of THEA.

Medcalf said the dioxins found in the yards of homes close to the railyard are known to be dioxins from wood processing.

Dioxin is a toxic carcinogen linked to cancer. Earlier this year, test samples found traces of creosote near Rayyard, a former creosote treatment facility.

Union Pacific says it’s working to clean up the site, but residents like Latonia Payne say progress isn’t fast enough. Payne believes that the chemicals gave her son Corinth leukemia – which killed him last year.

“I believe years of neglect on the railroad contributed to its demise,” she said.

THEA said they plan to send a letter to the Texas Department of State Health Services to request additional community testing.

Also See: Negotiations begin on plan to clean up Union Pacific pollution in 5th Ward, Kashmere Gardens

Harris County, Houston to pursue federal lawsuit against Union Pacific Railroad over cancer cluster found in Cashmere Gardens Fifth Ward

Fifth Ward residents who live in a cancer cluster called on the mayor, state senators on their campaign contributions from Union Pacific.

Fifth Ward residents are still pleading for action against a cancer cluster found in the neighborhood.

The residents of the fifth zone asked the property owner to reject the special designation bid.

Business owners in Houston’s East End and Fifth Ward say stalled trains are costing them money.

The head of the EPA visited the neighborhood of the fifth ward where the cluster of cancer was found