Alarming Cancer Risks Uncovered in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley

News Summary

A new study from Johns Hopkins University reveals cancer risks in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley may be up to 11 times higher than EPA estimates. The research, conducted using mobile air monitoring, assessed 17 pollutants across multiple parishes, finding most census tracts with unacceptable cancer risk levels. These findings raise questions about the reliability of self-reported emissions data. Community advocates stress the urgency of addressing these health risks, as regulations continue to restrict environmental monitoring efforts. Amid ongoing industrial pollution concerns, the study calls for coordinated action among local communities and officials.

New Orleans – A recent study from scientists at Johns Hopkins University has unveiled alarming findings regarding cancer risks in Louisiana’s notoriously polluted industrial region, known as ‘Cancer Alley.’ The research suggests that cancer risks in this area, which stretches between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, may be up to 11 times higher than estimates provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The study focused on 17 different air pollutants, utilizing a mobile air monitoring lab to collect real-time data across Ascension, Iberville, St. James, and St. John the Baptist parishes. Researchers collected air quality data over a month-long span in February 2023, estimating cancer risks in 15 census tracts within these parishes.

Findings indicate that in all but one of the examined census tracts, cancer risks posed by air pollutants exceeded EPA projections. Each of these tracts reported “unacceptable” levels of cancer risk. For example, one tract in Iberville Parish reflected a cancer risk of 560 per million, a stark contrast to the EPA’s estimate of about 50 per million for the same region. Similarly, three tracts in Ascension Parish reported cancer risks around 500 or higher per million, while EPA estimates for these areas were below 100 per million.

The discrepancies between the Johns Hopkins study and the EPA’s estimates raise concerns regarding the credibility of self-reported emissions data utilized by both states and industrial sectors. The president of the Louisiana Chemical Association has expressed skepticism about the study’s results, citing that the air quality measurements were based on a limited timeframe and may not accurately depict year-round exposure levels.

Community advocates have responded more vigorously to the study’s findings, characterizing them as a necessary wake-up call for residents in affected areas. The EPA has noted that there is no universally accepted measure for cancer risk levels, yet it generally considers a risk of 100 per million as acceptable for those most exposed to pollutants.

In light of the study’s publication in a peer-reviewed journal by the National Academy of Sciences, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has not commented on the findings, potentially indicating ongoing concerns about air quality monitoring regulations. These new rules restrict advocacy groups’ abilities to report environmental breaches unless utilizing specific federal equipment, raising worry among community organizations about the environmental implications.

The environment in Cancer Alley has been further complicated by recent decisions made during the previous presidential administration, which exempted several industrial facilities in Louisiana from compliance with pollution control rules. This exemption was justified by referencing technological limitations and financial burdens on companies.

The study’s scrutiny is timely considering ongoing environmental litigations, such as the case against Denka, a synthetic rubber plant that has drawn significant attention for its pollutant discharges, including chloroprene, recognized as a carcinogen. Many local community members express mounting frustrations over the lack of protective measures against industrial pollution and a feeling of being systematically overlooked by government regulations.

The alarming cancer risk findings from the Johns Hopkins study stand as a growing concern for the residents inhabiting Cancer Alley. As community activists voice their fears and demand action, the fight against environmental hazards in the region intensifies. Understanding and addressing these cancer risks may require coordinated efforts among local communities, state officials, and environmental advocacy groups to restore health and safety standards in one of the most polluted zones in the United States.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• NOLA: Cancer Chemicals in Louisiana Industry
• Wikipedia: Cancer Alley
• Politico: EPA Faulted for Cancer Alley Risks
• Google Search: Cancer Alley
• The Guardian: Trump and Cancer Alley Lawsuit
• Google Scholar: Cancer Alley Pollution
• LA Illuminator: Louisiana Fluoride Concerns
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Cancer Alley
• NY Times: Cancer Alley Air Pollution and Free Speech
• Google News: Cancer Alley Environment