After Hurricane Harvey, Oregon State University’s Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology send a research team to Houston, to ascertain the threat to human health from exposure to toxins in the water, soil and air. They worked with Texas A&M, and THEA to gather the results.
Data was collected by using passive wristband samplers to determine personal chemical exposure after the flooding.
These wristbands can measure up to 1,530 different chemicals. 41 Superfund sites in Houston were affected by the hurricane, and 13 of these were flooded.
Although the study was conducted throughout the Houston area, a subset of 32 people were recruited from the Highlands area, and of these 27 returned their wristbands and had them analyzed.
Researchers looked for 1,530 chemicals found in several different chemical classes. Some chemicals are included in more than one class. For example, triclosan is found in both personal care products and is considered a pesticide. On average, each person had 28 chemicals in their wristband.
They measured chemicals at the nanogram level, which is a very small amount. However, they are still learning how much of a chemical is needed to cause a negative health effect.
Of the Highlands sample group, 119 chemicals were found across all 27 wristbands. 1411 chemicals were not detected.
CROSBY – On November 6, Crosby ISD will have a school board trustee election. Kasey Lewis and Sharon Eavon Fain will vie for Position 2 in the only contested position. The At-large Position is to continue with John Warren Swinney as a leader. Swinney asked the Superintendent to examine how Crosby ISD got into financial problems and if there was any culpability or criminal activity, to proceed with prosecution vigorously.