Residents in the Chasewood subdivision east of Missouri City, as well as the wider Fort Bend-Houston Superneighborhood 41 have been outspoken about their concerns about water contamination potentially from nearby gas wells. But a new study of cancer cases this month in the Chasewood subdivision—which residents suspect was caused by contaminated groundwater—found no cancer cluster in the area.
The Texas Department of State Health Services released a second cancer cluster assessment on Aug. 7 where it observed a two census tract area for cancer occurrences. Although the number of uterus cases observed in the study was higher than expected—21 cases were recorded but 13.3 cases were expected to be observed—DSHS concluded that there were no statistically significant rates of cancer.
DSHS did not find statistically significant numbers of observed cancer case types in Chasewood, based on the expected number of cases for the area. DSHS uses comparison data from the Texas Cancer Registry, as well as a 95 percent confidence interval. Uterine cancer cases in Chasewood were deemed statistically insignificant because their rate was within a 95 to 100 percent confidence interval.
Last year, DSHS surveyed a four census tract area and found no statistically significant rates of cancers within its study area in 2016.
"The DSHS looked at these eight cancer types: kidney, stomach, colon, rectum, pancreas, uterus, liver, and thyroid," Phyllis Bailey, a Chasewood community liaison, said in a statement. "They compared the number of observed cases to the expected number of cases based on the occurrences statewide."
Since the DSHS survey didn't observe the Chasewood subdivision alone, instead looking at entire census tracts, environmental scientist Jacqueline Smith worked with the Chasewood Civic Club to survey all 401 homes in the subdivision for cancer diagnoses in 2016.
Bailey and Smith presented the results of the community survey to residents on Aug. 16, along Stephanie Thomas, a researcher and community organizer for the advocacy group Public Citizen. Of the nearly 30 percent of homes that responded, 98 cancer cases were found.
"I wish I could tell you something better because I've been [working] on this for several years," Bailey said.
The latest DSHS study of cancer cases in Chasewood used data from the 6704 and 6703 census tracts, which cover territory likely to have been served by the groundwater wells.[/caption]All three women said that a DSHS study is limited in its scope and database, but taking further action would require substantial collaboration and money from residents for legal representation.
The longstanding concerns stem from the years-long case of water contamination for communities in and around the Chasewood subdivision. Groundwater wells providing drinking water to Chasewood residents were found to be contaminated with elevated levels of radioactive particles eight years ago.
While the city of Houston removed the water wells and switched its service to surface water—the drinking water is now primarily sourced from the Trinity River—residents are still concerned that the pipeline distributing their water is leached with contaminants.
Since then, residents have pushed the state for answers on whether the water was connected to cancer cases in the neighborhood.
FBH Superneighborhood 41 passed a Clean Air & Water Bill of Rights during an Aug. 10 meeting, which outlined actions residents want to see from elected officials and business leaders to ensure environmental quality.
“I would like to say that this is not a popular thing that we’re doing here,” superneighborhood President Carl David Evans said. “But because I’m passionate and believe that it is important for us to know that our water is safe to drink, our air is good to breathe, I think that that is what our community representatives want. That is what we want as a community.”
During a meeting for the superneighborhood on Aug. 10, Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, who chairs the superneighborhood's environmental action committee, tried to quell resident concerns. He said that the water system and pipelines were found safe when the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality investigated for potential contamination last August and September.
Reynolds said the agency sampled drinking water from random Chasewood homes.
"The results came back favorable," Reynolds said, adding that the results were within the Environmental Protection Agency's permissible levels.
But Bailey is not convinced and still does not drink from her tap. Both she and speakers at the superneighborhood meeting urged residents to put pressure on their elected officials and lobby for environmental enforcement.
"You as a community have to ask yourself, 'Who are these people we're electing?'" Bailey asked. "Everybody is going to have to do what they need to do for their own home."
