A recently released study by the Texas Department of Health Services has revealed that around 330,000 people residing in East Harris County, Texas, are living within a cancer cluster spanning 250 square miles along the San Jacinto River. The report was shared in a community meeting held Tuesday evening in Highlands, drawing emotional reactions and urgent calls for action from residents. The study was initiated at the request of the Texas Health and Environment Alliance (THEA), a nonprofit advocating for environmental health. THEA, frustrated with the lack of state-level response, shared findings that point to an alarming health crisis—one that residents have been experiencing firsthand for years.

Gene Hennigan, a lifelong resident of the Lynchburg area—identified as "ground zero" for the waste pits—spoke about the personal toll the cluster has taken on his family. His son passed away two years ago from two forms of lung cancer, having spent his childhood swimming and playing in the nearby waters. “My wife’s had breast cancer and is thankfully in remission now,” Hennigan added. “Our youngest son’s father-in-law died two months ago from liver cancer, and our neighbor across the street is battling brain cancer. Our whole neighborhood’s full of it.”

Toxic Legacy and Health Crisis in the San Jacinto River Area

Between 2013 and 2021, the study identified 29 different types of cancer among the affected population. The four most prevalent were leukemia, lung cancer, lymphoma, and cervical cancer. However, the study did not establish a direct cause, leading to growing frustration among community members who say the source is all too clear. THEA attributes the cancer cluster to ongoing contamination from five Superfund sites—designated toxic waste zones—located under the I-10 bridge spanning the San Jacinto River. These waste pits are believed to be leaking dioxins and other hazardous chemicals into the river, which serves as a primary drinking water source and is now considered unsafe for swimming and fishing.

Edward Johnson, another local resident, expressed his concern about the water quality, sharing that at times the tap water appears rusty and unclean, even staining laundry. “There have been times we had to re-wash the clothes because the water looked so rusty,” he said. “Who wants to drink that?” The Tuesday meeting in Highlands was marked by the notable absence of state officials. Empty chairs, adorned with balloons, were placed at the front of the meeting room to symbolize the lack of presence and response from government agencies. THEA criticized both the Texas Department of Health Services and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to offer clear solutions or attend the meeting despite knowing the severity of the situation.

Community leaders and residents continue to urge the EPA to permanently remove the waste pits, which are believed to be the core of the contamination. “I want to see the EPA take care of something that they already know is a problem that’s causing all these deaths,” said Hennigan. “While they’re talking, we’re dying.” The San Jacinto River has a long and troubling history of industrial pollution, particularly from paper mills and chemical plants that used the area for waste dumping for decades. Although cleanup efforts have been discussed for years, residents argue that progress has been slow and largely ineffective in mitigating health risks.

THEA announced its next community meeting will take place on Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m. at the Crosby Community Center, located at 409 Hare Road. The organization continues to call for immediate federal intervention to eliminate the toxic waste pits and prevent further loss of life. KPRC 2 has reached out to both the EPA and the Texas Department of Health Services for comment. As of now, no response has been provided. The residents of East Harris County continue to live in fear and frustration, awaiting action to address what may be one of the most dangerous cancer clusters in the United States.