Soil samples from the Julia C. Hester House in Houston's Fifth Ward were found to have dioxin levels above the Environmental Protection Agency’s screening level for children, though still below hazardous levels for those seven and older. The findings have raised concerns about public health and safety, as reported by Click2Houston.

Union Pacific Railroad is investigating contamination from the former Houston Wood Preserving Works, finding toxic dioxin in soil samples from public areas. Local officials held a news conference to address the issue. Meanwhile, a potential cut of over 1,000 Environmental Protection Agency employees under President Trump could delay important investigations into soil toxicity and a cancer cluster in the Greater Fifth Ward Kashmere Gardens, according to Houston Public Media and Click2Houston.

Representative Turner expressed concern over the potential end of an investigation into toxic chemicals at an old railyard in Houston’s Fifth Ward. Union Pacific is conducting soil testing with 185 homeowners, while activist Joetta Stevenson pointed out variations in soil toxicity, stating that levels "range from a safe level to 52 times a safe level to 200 times the safe level." The community is calling for continued investigation as the Environmental Protection Agency faces potential budget cuts, as stated by Houston Public Media.