Poisonous gases are leaking in some Texas communities, and residents are struggling to get help.
A recent investigative report by the Houston Chronicle, in partnership with The Examination, a nonprofit newsroom focused on global health threats, reveals that oil companies are leaking toxic gas near schools and homes, with minimal intervention from regulators.
Residents near these facilities, such as those in Odessa, Texas, are suffering from headaches, nausea, and stomach aches. The gas in question is hydrogen sulfide (H2S), an invisible gas with a rotten egg smell. Will Evans, a senior reporter from The Examination, told Eyewitness News that the team spent months investigating and reviewing hundreds of state records.
“We found that even when the state fines oil companies for repeatedly releasing this gas near residential areas, the companies face no real consequences. Inspectors keep returning to the same sites, but the leaks continue without resolution,” Evans said. “State employees have become so sick from the gas that they have fled.”
For more details, including an interactive map of the hotspots, visit the Houston Chronicle’s website. The reporters hope their investigation will bring attention to the issue and prompt action to assist affected families.
