Primary Department: Public Health Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton ─ Executive Director
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Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
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Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 0%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Transmittal by Public Health Services of a report on the East Harris County Cancer Assessment that provides a summary of an analysis of cancer patterns in East Harris County (EHC) using data from the Texas Cancer Registry.
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Background and Discussion:
HCPH’s Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Emerging Diseases (OESED) calculated Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIRs) for each census tract in Harris County. SIRs indicate whether observed cancer rates are more or less than would be expected. This approach provides a more localized understanding of cancer occurrence within the County and specific communities. The study area includes census tracts across Harris County, with a focus on East Harris County, a region that spans several communities located near the Houston Ship Channel and surrounding industrial corridors. The HCPH East Harris County Cancer Assessment’s goal is to provide information that gives HCPH and its partners the ability to understand cancer patterns better and identify potential environmental factors that may influence cancer incidence in the region.
Expected Impact:
Harris County ranks among the highest in Texas for exposure to toxic air pollutants that contribute to long-term health risks, including cancer.2 The county also has more pollution sources - such as chemical facilities, refineries, concrete batch plants, landfills, and heavy traffic - within three miles of residential communities than nearly any other county in the state. These facilities are heavily concentrated in East Harris County, particularly along the Houston Ship Channel corridor, where dense clusters of petrochemical infrastructure are situated adjacent to residential communities. This report presents key patterns in cancer incidence throughout Harris County. It emphasizes the critical importance of utilizing high-quality data to accurately assess and understand the health needs of local communities. The findings highlight the necessity for continued transparency, routine monitoring, and timely communication to ensure that residents and partners remain informed about emerging health trends in the region.
Alternative Options:
There are no alternative viewpoints to consider as this item is discussed in court. This cancer assessment report provides a focused analysis on cancer patterns across Harris County. By leveraging these insights, stakeholders can improve public health planning and policy, ensuring a more resilient, informed, and prepared community. Harris County Public Health remains committed to protecting the health of all communities through rigorous data analysis, open collaboration, and ongoing engagement with stakeholders.
CountyStrategic Plan Goal: 4. Improve physical and mental health outcomes across all communities.
County Strategic Plan Objective: N: Improve the health behaviors of community members.
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Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
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Anticipated Court Date: March 19, 2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): March 19, 2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Jennifer Kiger, MPH, Director, Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Emerging Diseases, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): East Harris County Cancer Assessment Report