Chemical contamination raises concerns about local river

(4/11/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- There's a health hazard lurking in the waters of the San Jacinto River near I-10. Officials with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality say the waters show high levels of dioxin in the sediment, and that could be dangerous for those who eat fish caught in the river.

Johnny Salazar fishes along the San Jacinto River three or four times a week.

"I really catch them," he said. "Some pretty nice-sized fish."

He says it's a great spot to catch his fill.

"We've been catching a lot of whitings and a lot of bull reds and a couple of drums," Salazar said.

But fishing here may not be the best for his health. Less than a mile from here is the source of water contaminated with high levels of dioxins -- chemicals that could cause cancer or birth defects.

This spot is an old industrial disposal pit, now filled with water from the river. In fact, Congressmen Gene Green and Ted Poe have sent letters to the EPA asking the site be given money for clean up, adding it to the national Superfund list.

Even though the congressmen sent their letters to the federal agency just a couple of weeks ago, the EPA told Eyewitness News they've been looking into this site for more than a year, and they are well on the way to declaring part of the San Jacinto a Superfund site.

All along this area, there are warnings not to fish or eat seafood from these waters. But plenty of people still fish here, unconvinced by a danger they cannot see or taste.

Salazar wanted to know, "If the water is contaminated, why are the fish still alive? And my grandpa says, 'If the fish is alive, it's good for you to eat.'"

This story was brought to you through our partnership with Houston Community Newspapers. You can read more about it in the Lake Houston Sentinel.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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