Louisiana's Air Quality: Is It Safe To Breathe?

Louisiana's air quality is a growing concern, with the state lagging behind the rest of the US in terms of improvement. While air quality has improved across the country over the last few decades, Louisiana is backsliding, with a recent increase in industrial plants causing a rise in toxic emissions. This is particularly concerning in areas like Cancer Alley, where new chemical plants are being built in a region that already has the state's worst air quality. Louisiana's air pollution is a serious health threat, with particle pollution linked to an increased risk of lung cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory issues, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, older adults, and people with pre-existing conditions.

Louisiana's air quality is worsening while the rest of the US improves

While air quality has improved across the United States over the last few decades, the same cannot be said for Louisiana, where air quality is worsening. Louisiana is approving the building of new chemical plants in areas that already have the state's worst air quality in a region known as "Cancer Alley".

The state's largest city, New Orleans, experienced more unhealthy days of high ozone in 2020 than in 2019. It tied for 93rd most polluted city for ozone, and the production of ozone is increasing due to higher temperatures in Louisiana over the last three years. Shreveport, Bossier City, and Minden recorded their best-ever levels for ozone pollution and ranked among the cleanest areas in the nation for the first time. However, the state capital, Baton Rouge, was ranked 44th for the most polluted city when looking at its ozone levels, despite reducing the number of days where ozone was at a dangerous level.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to measure air quality and works similarly to a thermometer that is graded from 0 to 500 degrees. The AQI focuses on health effects that may be experienced within a few hours or days after breathing unhealthy air. The five main pollutants monitored by the AQI are ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and aerosols, including PM2.5 and PM10 particles. Louisiana was granted $978,866 from the Environmental Protection Agency in late 2020 to help monitor air quality, especially for fine particulate matter of PM2.5.

The number of facilities in Louisiana that are required to report their toxic releases to the government has increased since the 1980s, while the national number has decreased. Louisiana is among the ten states with the most high-polluting areas, and the state is among the least improved since 1988.

Louisiana's most polluted city, New Orleans, has high levels of ozone

Louisiana's air quality is declining while the rest of the United States is improving. Louisiana is approving the building of new chemical plants in areas that already have the state's worst air quality, in a region known as "Cancer Alley". The number of facilities in Louisiana that are required to report their toxic releases to the government has increased since the 1980s, while nationally, that number has decreased.

New Orleans, the largest city in Louisiana, is a major port city and the commercial and economic heart of the Gulf Coast region. It is home to industries such as oil refining, petrol and chemical production, and natural gas extraction. These industries have a significant impact on the city's pollution levels, with New Orleans being subject to dangerous levels of pollution within condensed areas. In 2020, New Orleans had a PM2.5 reading of 9 μg/m³, which placed it in the World Health Organization's target bracket. However, there were months with considerably higher readings, indicating that the city needs to address its air pollution issues to reduce health problems among its population.

New Orleans has experienced more unhealthy days of high ozone in recent years. The production of ozone is increasing due to higher temperatures in Louisiana. Ground-level ozone forms when certain chemicals come into contact with ultraviolet light, and these chemicals are produced by combustion from sources such as internal combustion engines, power plants, and forest fires. New Orleans's year-round particle pollution levels have dropped in recent years due to the clean-up of coal-fired power stations and the removal of old, dirty diesel engines.

The air pollution in New Orleans includes pollutants such as black carbon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are released from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and organic matter. VOCs include chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, and methylene chloride. Benzene, another VOC, can affect the immune system, red blood cell count, and bone marrow when inhaled in excess. Other pollutants in New Orleans include ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2), which are released from cars and ships in the port.

Louisiana's air pollution is caused by industrial plants and chemical projects

Louisiana's air quality is declining, despite the overall improvement in air quality across the United States. The state's air pollution is largely driven by industrial permitting by regulators, with a concentration of industrial facilities in areas known as "Cancer Alley". This area, a stretch along the lower Mississippi River, is home to over half of Louisiana's industrial facilities, and is associated with increased cancer risk due to toxic air pollutants.

The Clean Air Act and its amendments are the primary laws regulating air quality in the United States. The Act includes a list of 189 hazardous compounds known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health issues. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for developing and enforcing regulations to control these pollutants. Under the Act, industries must report emissions of toxic air pollutants (TAPs) and demonstrate compliance with Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards.

Louisiana's air pollution is largely attributed to industrial plants and chemical projects. The state has approved the construction of new chemical plants in areas with already poor air quality, such as Cancer Alley. These plants are required to disclose information on their toxic emissions to the Toxics Release Inventory, administered by the EPA. However, the number of facilities in Louisiana reporting toxic releases has increased since the 1980s, while the national trend has been decreasing.

The James complex is one of the largest industrial projects in Louisiana's history, with a history of polluting waterways in Texas. Investigations by ProPublica, The Times-Picayune, and The Advocate have revealed the potential cancer-causing toxicity in the air, with a focus on new chemical plants in South Louisiana's most polluted areas. Their analysis found that the construction of new industrial plants will increase cancer-causing chemicals in predominantly Black and poor communities.

Additionally, Louisiana's industrial emissions disproportionately affect communities of colour. Despite evidence that these communities are harmed more by pollution, state regulators have denied the existence of such disparities. Chemical manufacturing is the largest contributor to emissions in communities of colour, with up to 21 times higher emissions than predominantly white communities.

Louisiana's air pollution is linked to an increased risk of lung cancer and heart attacks

Louisiana's air quality has been worsening over the years, with the state being among the least improved in terms of reducing toxic air pollution. This is particularly evident in an area in the state known as "Cancer Alley", where the air is likely being poisoned with a highly carcinogenic gas, ethylene oxide, at levels much higher than previously thought. The high number of chemical facilities in Louisiana contributes to this, as ethylene oxide is used in the production of other chemicals for plastics and in fumigation processes. The inhalation of this toxic gas has been linked to multiple cancers, DNA damage, lung injury, and other serious health issues.

The effects of air pollution on human health are well-documented. Short-term spikes in particle pollution can be deadly, with most premature deaths attributed to respiratory and cardiovascular causes. Additionally, exposure to air pollution can lead to decreased lung function, trigger asthma attacks, and harm lung development in children. A 10-year study found that people living in areas with slightly elevated levels of certain types of air pollution, such as ozone, are at a much higher risk of lung damage, even if they have never smoked. The results showed that 10 years of exposure to elevated ozone levels is equivalent to smoking a pack of 20 cigarettes per day for 29 years.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated that the Clean Air Act prevented 200,000 heart attacks in 2020, highlighting the importance of addressing air pollution to mitigate its health impacts. Despite this, Louisiana continues to approve the construction of new chemical plants in areas with already poor air quality, such as Cancer Alley. This trend is concerning, as it poses a significant risk to the health and well-being of residents, particularly in vulnerable communities.

To protect themselves from the harmful effects of air pollution, individuals can monitor local air quality and stay indoors on days with poor air quality. Additionally, participating in local energy conservation programs and reducing fossil fuel consumption can help decrease air pollution and mitigate its associated health risks.

Louisiana's air pollution disproportionately affects people of colour and low-income communities

Louisiana's air quality has been worsening in recent years, with the state being among the least improved in terms of reducing toxic air levels. While the rest of the United States has seen a decrease in the number of facilities that are required to report their toxic releases, Louisiana has seen an increase since the 1980s. This is particularly evident in an area known as "Cancer Alley", where new chemical plants are being built in a region that already has the state's worst air quality.

The state's poor air quality has a disproportionate impact on people of colour and low-income communities, who are more likely to be affected by air pollution than other populations. Investigators at Tulane University have found a positive correlation between cancer incidence and cancer risk from air pollution in predominantly Black and low-income communities. These communities are often located near industrial plants, which emit toxic chemicals and contribute to increased cancer rates in the state.

In addition to cancer risks, air pollution in Louisiana also poses other health risks, such as lung damage and respiratory issues. People of colour and low-income individuals are more susceptible to these health risks, as they are more likely to live in areas with elevated levels of air pollution and have limited access to healthcare services.

The impact of air pollution on vulnerable communities in Louisiana is further exacerbated by the state's limited air quality monitoring network. Many counties in Louisiana lack monitors, resulting in a lack of data and inadequate air quality management. This disproportionately affects people of colour and low-income communities, who are often excluded from the data collection process and are left vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution.

Overall, Louisiana's air pollution disproportionately affects people of colour and low-income communities, putting them at a higher risk of cancer, respiratory issues, and other health problems. It is crucial for policymakers to address these disparities and implement measures to improve air quality and protect the health of these vulnerable communities.

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