Texas PSR Leads Health Professionals to Port Arthur September 20, 2024

In early August, Texas PSR, in collaboration with the Medical Society Consortium for Climate and Health and the Port Arthur Community Action Network, led a group of 25 health professionals on a two-day environmental justice trip to Port Arthur. The group, comprised of physicians, nurses, and healthcare students, explored the adverse health effects of fossil fuel refining and engaged with the local community through education and service.

During the trip, participants toured Port Arthur’s petrochemical refineries, dined with community leaders, and hosted a community health fair at the West Side Development Center. They learned about advocacy opportunities in the ongoing fight to prevent new fossil fuel infrastructure in Texas Gulf communities already burdened by pollution.

At the health fair, community members received vital sign checks, education on managing diabetes and reducing cancer risk, consultations with healthcare navigators from the Gulf Coast Health Center for access to services, and immunizations provided by the Port Arthur Health Department. Attendees also received gift cards and backpacks containing hurricane safety kits.

We are proud to have facilitated this impactful event and extend our gratitude to all the dedicated health professionals who joined us. We look forward to organizing more initiatives like this in other communities in the future!

Why Port Arthur?

Port Arthur was chosen for the trip to give participants firsthand experience of life in a community heavily impacted by industrial pollution. Many of Port Arthur’s predominantly African American and Hispanic residents live next to three major oil refining facilities: North America’s largest refinery, Motiva; the Valero Refinery, which ranks third in the U.S. for potential chronic negative health impacts according to EPA data; and the TotalEnergies Refinery and PetroChemical Plant, which released 400,000 pounds of toxic materials into the air in 2022. Additionally, Port Arthur hosts the sixth largest sulfur dioxide emitter in Texas, Oxbow Calcining (owned by Bill Koch), and the Veolia Port Arthur incinerator, the largest of its kind among Veolia’s 15 facilities, handling hazardous waste, including forever chemicals, military waste, and dioxins.

ProPublica reports that the risk of contracting an industrial-related cancer in Port Arthur is 1 in 53, which is 190 times higher than what the EPA considers acceptable. While many people may know someone who has battled cancer, in Port Arthur, the list of friends and colleagues lost to cancers—such as breast, prostate, lung, bladder, and colon cancers, as well as leukemia and lymphoma—is alarmingly long. John Beard Jr., leader of the Port Arthur Community Action Network, describes Port Arthur as a “sacrifice zone” for the oil and gas industry, where the relentless pursuit of profit comes at the expense of the health and safety of local workers and residents.

Compounding the challenges of severe pollution, Port Arthur also faces significant barriers to accessing effective medical care. Over 25 percent of its residents are low-income, and more than 28 percent lack health insurance, leaving many without the necessary resources for proper medical treatment.

Watch video of the trip below.