WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - More concerns in North East Wichita from the decades-old chemical spill from a Union Pacific railroad at 29th and Grove.  

Some people in that area are calling for more information about where to get health screenings.  

The Union Pacific chemical spill from the 1970s has resulted in many health screenings.  

The screenings are for residents in the area because of exposure to a chemical called Trichloroethylene (TCE). 

People in a general population can be exposed to TCE by inhaling it in both indoor and outdoor air or by drinking contaminated water.  Evidence from the National Cancer Institute states long-term exposure to TCE causes kidney cancer.  Some evidence even suggests that it may be associated with increased risks of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and possibly liver cancer.  

GraceMed have been doing these no-cost health screenings for several months.  People in the community are saying the word needs to get out more so others will know and go get tested.   

"I want to see public service announcements so that the testing can be accessed.  People need to know," said a frustrated Aujanae Bennett who has lived in the area for 56 years. Bennett lost her father to cancer and wonders if it was associated with the spill.  

District 89 State Representative KC Ohaebosim said GraceMed has already started the testing.  He added, “Other sites will be selected, other clinics will be selected with respect to the testing here in the community."  

He said GraceMed raised money on its own to start the testing. 

Ohaebosim also added that the legislature gave 1.5 million dollars toward testing of residents added to one million already allotted.  He said he and other council members are always doing their best to get the word out.  

"Myself together with Councilman Johnson, State Representative Ford Carr, Senator Faust-Goudeau, we are always trying to get information so that we can actually pass it out to our constituents including our county commissioner Commissioner Baty." 

Bennett said this is too serious of an issue and feels they should get the word out in the same way vaccines were promoted during the COVID-19.  

She fears the 29th and Grove area could be a cancer cluster.  

Ohaebosim adds the 1.5 million dollars will be made available in July, which is the beginning of the next fiscal year when the budget will be released.  He said this is when more clinics and centers to do testing will be added. 

He said other entities like KDHE and the local county health department will handle messaging.  

"The messaging that's something that they're going to be taken care of in terms of how the outreach is going to be, whether it's going to be through billboards, whether it's going to be through postcards, said Ohaebosim.    

He also urges everyone within the 29th and Grove community to get tested even if you only visited the area.