The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says there were higher rates of liver cancer in adults and low birthweight among infants in an area of north Wichita, according to a health study that has been completed.
The study involved the 29th and Grove environmental site, along the northern part of a Union Pacific Railroad railyard that is just south of K-96 between I-135 and Grove. The contamination at the site is believed to have begun before 1994, and it originated with a leak of chemicals at the railyard. The contamination was identified in 1998.
The health study was performed on over 2,500 addresses in the affected area. It’s basic findings are:
- The rate of liver cancer was higher in the area of interest than in Sedgwick County or in Kansas.
- In particular, the rate of liver cancer among non-Hispanic Black persons in this area was more than twice the rate compared to the same population in Kansas.
- Rates of low birthweight among infants in the area of interest were higher than in Kansas, though those rates decreased from 2000 to 2021.
The study reviewed rates of other health conditions, including cancers (kidney and renal pelvis, urinary bladder, myeloma and lymphomas), congenital disabilities, and infants born small for gestational age, and found no other notable increases.
Dr. Farah Ahmed, environmental health officer and state epidemiologist, said there are a number of factors that can affect someone’s health outcomes, including environment, lifestyle and family history. Dr. Ahmed said KDHE cannot determine if cancers or other health outcomes are associated with the contamination or if it is related to other factors. The study can only report on an increase that is observed, and not the cause of the increase.
KDHE plans a public meeting in the coming weeks to answer any technical questions on the health study.
Wichita and Sedgwick County leaders had a strong reaction to the health report, and they had a briefing Friday for reporters and members of the community.
Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson said the city will work with the county and state officials to get more information out to residents in the area. He said “Today is just the beginning of the conversation. This is not the end-all, be-all. We do not have all the answers today, but we want to make sure that the community is aware that there are dangers out there in the groundwater, and they need to be aware of it.”
Johnson said most of the area is on city water, but there may still be some water wells in use. He is calling on people not to use well water for their lawns and gardens, and to avoid contact with the water. He is urging anyone who still has well water to switch to city water.
Sedgwick County Commissioner Ryan Baty is calling the situation a systematic failure of communication. He said the community became aware of the situation 30 years ago, but only select parts of the community knew about it, and there were elected officials who didn’t know about it. He said the county and the city will work on better communication and make sure that residents have access to information. Baty said officials will also try to find resources and funding to help people get cancer screenings or get information from a doctor.
State Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau and State Representative Ford Carr also attended the briefing on Friday and they said they will work to get information and help for residents who live near the site.
