Inside Cancer Alley: A Fight for Clean Air and Environmental Justice

Key Takeaways

• Cancer Alley is home to over 200 petrochemical plants, making it one of the most polluted regions in the U.S.

• Ethylene oxide and chloroprene are found at levels far above EPA safety limits, increasing cancer risks dramatically.

• Predominantly Black, working-class communities live near these facilities and suffer the highest exposure rates.

• Local residents and groups are actively organizing to demand corporate accountability and policy enforcement.

At dawn, the stretch of Louisiana’s Highway 44 can look deceptively serene. Mist clings to the sugarcane fields, and egrets rise from the bayous. But in the distance, faint flares from smokestacks signal constant activity inside the petrochemical plants that line the Mississippi River. In this 85-mile industrial corridor known as “Cancer Alley,” the air residents breathe each day is a silent hazard.

More than 200 petrochemical plants and refineries operate here, many within a few hundred feet of homes, schools, and churches. While these operations generate significant revenue, they also release some of the highest levels of toxic air emissions in the country. Federal data confirms that residents in parts of Louisiana’s Cancer Alley face cancer risks from air pollution more than seven times the national average, largely due to chemicals such as ethylene oxide and chloroprene, which are classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as likely or known carcinogens.

Understanding how these risks developed, why they persist, and what can be done to address them is critical—not only for the communities directly affected, but for the broader conversation about industrial regulation, public health, and environmental justice in the United States.

What the Air Contains and Its Impact On Health

Cancer Alley’s air is loaded with several toxic pollutants and respiratory toxins at levels well above national safety benchmarks. Scientific surveys and regulatory data highlight the following key contaminants and their health impacts:

The Community At Risk

The town of Reserve, located in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, is widely recognized as one of the most at-risk communities in the United States for pollution-related cancer. According to the EPA’s 2014 National Air Toxics Assessment, one census tract in Reserve had the highest cancer risk from air pollution nationwide, with a risk level of 1,505-in-1 million. This elevated risk is primarily linked to emissions from nearby facilities, including a neoprene production facility.

The EPA identified chloroprene, a chemical classified by the agency as a “likely human carcinogen,” as the leading contributor, accounting for 85% (1,279-in-1 million) of the total estimated cancer risk in the area. Additional pollutants, such as ethylene oxide contributed 12% (187-in-1 million), while the remaining 3% (38-in-1 million) came from other hazardous pollutants.

Behind these numbers is a community largely composed of working-class Black families. Residents like Robert Taylor, who has lived nearby for all of his 82 years, have taken action to confront the crisis. Taylor co-founded the Concerned Citizens of St. John, a grassroots group demanding accountability from both industry and government. “Why are they allowed to continue to poison us?” he asked in an interview with NBC News. “They need to stop until they can prove they are operating safely.”

The people of Reserve often live, work, and send their children to school within close proximity to industrial sites. For many longtime community members, this reality has led to difficult reflection on missed opportunities to act sooner. One of them is Sanders, a former school board president who spent more than two decades overseeing schools like Fifth Ward Elementary. “There is a strong feeling of regret,” said Sanders, who now runs a funeral home in the area. “We were making sure kids were educated, but we weren’t making sure kids were safe.”

Policy at a Turning Point

In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new rules requiring drastic reductions in EtO and chloroprene emissions and mandating fenceline monitoring for “covered processes and equipment that make, use, store or emit EtO, chloroprene, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, ethylene dichloride or vinyl chloride…”

These reforms were hailed as a rare and hard-fought victory for environmental health advocates. Yet, that momentum now appears threatened. Earlier this year, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice agreed to dismiss a long-standing lawsuit against the company operating a neoprene plant in Reserve, Louisiana. This facility has long been considered a major contributor to some of the highest cancer rates in the United States, making the dismissal particularly troubling for affected residents.

“They are now just saying publicly like this that our lives are not important when it comes to the profits of these corporations,” local activist Robert Taylor told Environmental Health News.

Adding to these concerns, the EPA recently introduced a process that allows companies to apply for temporary exemptions from key air pollution controls targeting hazardous substances like mercury and ethylene oxide (EtO). Although the agency emphasizes that exemptions are not granted automatically, this new pathway has sparked serious backlash from public health experts and environmental advocates over transparency, precedent, and heightened risks for already vulnerable communities.

The Path Toward Real Solutions

Even after the recent setbacks, three structural “pillars” are still holding, and each has delivered fresh wins in the last few months:

So, how can residents and allies translate these levers into progress? 

1. File 60-day notice letters the moment a facility’s fenceline average breaches the action level. The mere arrival of a well-documented notice letter often pushes a company to settle or install controls before any lawsuit is filed.

2. Intervene in exemption requests. Demand docketing and public hearings; document health burdens to undercut a “national-security” rationale.

3. Combine Title VI and civil-rights claims with air-permit challenges to force cumulative-impact reviews. Even if a permit is technically legal under state rules, a Title VI complaint can pause federal funding and compel additional protective conditions or denial of the permit.

4. Use newly restored grant funds to deploy low-cost sensors. This generates hyper-local exposure data, builds scientific literacy, and creates paid roles that keep community members involved.

5. Keep political pressure visible. Stress the issue in the upcoming state-level elections. Regulators and elected officials respond faster when they see an organized voting bloc and public visibility.

Cancer Alley stands as a stark symbol of environmental injustice in America, where industrial profit has long outweighed public health, and where communities have borne the brunt of toxic exposure. Though recent EPA reforms and legal victories offer hope, ongoing loopholes and political reversals show that the fight is far from over. Real change depends on unwavering legal action, grassroots organizing, and political will. The communities in Cancer Alley and others like them deserve more than resilience. They deserve clean air, accountability, and justice.

FAQs

How long has Cancer Alley existed?

Cancer Alley began developing in the mid-20th century as petrochemical industries expanded along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The term "Cancer Alley" gained prominence in the 1980s due to rising health concerns.

Why are there so many chemical plants in Louisiana?

Louisiana offers access to the Mississippi River, major shipping routes, and cheap natural gas, which supports the petrochemical industry. State tax incentives and lax environmental regulations have also encouraged industrial development.

How does Cancer Alley relate to environmental racism?

Many chemical plants are located near low-income, predominantly Black communities, which often lack the political power to resist industrial siting. This pattern has been cited as a clear example of environmental racism.

Are there relocation programs for residents in high-risk zones?

Some companies and agencies have offered limited buyouts or relocation assistance, often under pressure from lawsuits or community advocacy. However, these programs are not widespread and often fall short of residents’ needs.

How can we clean up Cancer Alley, Louisiana?

Cleaning up Cancer Alley requires stricter pollution controls, investment in emissions monitoring, and enforcement of environmental laws. Long-term solutions also include transitioning to cleaner industries and restoring natural buffers.

Is there any hope for reversing the environmental damage in this region?

While some damage is long-lasting, environmental restoration is possible through coordinated action by government, industry, and communities. Success depends on sustained funding, political will, and equitable policymaking.

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