Creosote contamination in Houston

Inspired by a recent trip to Houston, the JEDI moment led by Clara addressed cancer clusters in Houston.

Clara began the discussion by explaining the ward system in Houston. The Fifth Ward in Houston comprised of predominantly African-American railroad workers. The Ward has been at odds with the city of Houston for centuries, and threatened to secede twice from the city in 1875 and 1883, citing inadequate municipal services. Creosote contamination caused the proliferation of cancer clusters, a trend that continues today with people having an average life span of 40 to 50 years in these areas. This led to a discussion on the role of researchers in facilitating greater discussions of these issues that have been raging in the public sphere for decades, and how to set realistic expectations when engaging with communities during the research process.