In the heart of Cancer Alley

Louisiana is known for a lot of things: good food, southern hospitality, LSU, beads, but what about its biggest well known secret?

Happy Sunday, suge! When was the last time you sat back and ref elected on your childhood? Now of course, here I do it often. And it is usually coupled with wonder an excitement that can only be produced by childlike naïveté. When I was younger, like 10 or 11, and I would cross over the Sunshine Bridge with my momma or my Grampie, I would always see bright lights coming over the bridge and huge smokestacks. I imagined that it was the city—you know? Bright lights, lots of movers and shakers. But sadly, when I got older, I understood that was not the case. That was not the city, far from it, It was CF Industries, producing nitrogen-based fertilizers and industrial products.

A while ago, maybe in my early 20s, I had a conversation with my dad. He had been mourning the loss of a friend. His friend was young, in his late 40s or early 50s, and in pretty good health, but he developed a sudden case of cancer. Forgive me, because I cannot remember the type of cancer, but soon after the diagnosis, he passed away. This is a common occurrence in “Cancer Alley,” a stretch of 85 miles along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans—the same area where I was born and raised and affectionately call home. This was when I fully embraced the gravity of my home and how precarious life there could be

Once dominated by plantations that thrived on the labor of enslaved Africans, the area is now home to over 150 petrochemical plants and oil refineries. This industrial corridor has garnered its grim name due to the exceptionally high rates of cancer and other illnesses suffered by its predominantly Black and low-income residents. Cancer Alley serves as a stark example of environmental injustice. It illustrates how economic development and industrial expansion, often prioritized by state governments, have disproportionately harmed marginalized communities.

The roots of Cancer Alley’s crisis lie in its historical and economic foundations. After the Civil War, formerly enslaved people settled in small communities along the Mississippi River, turning land tied to their traumatic past into a symbol of survival and autonomy. However, the industrial boom of the mid-20th century disrupted this way of life. Louisiana, with its strategic location along the river and pro-business policies, attracted petrochemical companies eager to capitalize on cheap land and lax regulations.

As industries moved in, they targeted areas that were least equipped to resist. Land once owned or occupied by Black families became sites for chemical plants and refineries. Through discriminatory zoning practices and weak regulatory oversight, these communities were left to bear the brunt of pollution while receiving few economic benefits. Today, places like Reserve, St. John the Baptist Parish, and Geismar stand as reminders of this deeply inequitable development model.

The health impacts of living near such dense industrial activity are devastating. Residents of Cancer Alley experience elevated rates of cancer, respiratory diseases, reproductive health problems, and neurological disorders. A report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified parts of Cancer Alley as having cancer risks up to 50 times the national average, largely due to the emission of carcinogenic chemicals like benzene, chloroprene, and formaldehyde. Children and elderly residents are particularly vulnerable to these toxins. Schools and playgrounds often sit within a few miles—or even directly adjacent to—chemical plants. In Reserve, the Denka Performance Elastomer plant emits chloroprene, a chemical classified as a likely human carcinogen. Nearby, in St. James Parish, a proposed $9.4 billion plastics facility by Formosa Plastics threatens to add even more toxic emissions to an already burdened community.

For residents, the impacts go beyond physical health. The stress of living in a polluted environment, coupled with the inability to relocate due to financial constraints or property devaluation, has created widespread mental health challenges. Anxiety, depression, and a profound sense of abandonment by governmental institutions plague many who live in the shadow of these industrial giants. Cancer Alley exemplifies the intersection of environmental degradation and systemic racism. The majority of its residents are Black, and many live below the poverty line. These communities have historically been excluded from the political and legal processes that dictate industrial zoning and environmental oversight, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.

The state of Louisiana has played a significant role in perpetuating this injustice. Policies that prioritize industrial development over environmental protection have incentivized polluters to expand their operations in the region. While state officials often tout the economic benefits of these industries, including job creation and tax revenue, these benefits rarely reach the communities most affected. Instead, the people of Cancer Alley are left with pollution, poor health, and few resources to fight back. On a federal level, regulatory frameworks like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act have not been sufficiently enforced to protect the residents of Cancer Alley. Corporate lobbying and state-level political pressure often weaken environmental protections, allowing industries to continue operating with minimal accountability.

While Louisiana’s Cancer Alley is the most infamous, similar patterns of environmental injustice exist across the southern United States. In Texas, the Houston Ship Channel houses a dense cluster of petrochemical plants, disproportionately affecting Hispanic and Black communities with toxic air and water pollution. Alabama faces severe environmental challenges in places like Uniontown, where coal ash disposal sites contaminate groundwater and air, affecting predominantly Black populations. Along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, industrial facilities threaten the health of fishing communities and degrade vital ecosystems.

Despite the overwhelming challenges, communities in Cancer Alley and other affected regions have mobilized to fight back. Grassroots organizations, such as Rise St. James and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, have brought national attention to the environmental and public health crises in the region. Activists have filed lawsuits, organized protests, and demanded stricter regulations to protect their communities.

One significant victory came in 2020 when residents and environmental groups successfully delayed the construction of the Formosa Plastics plant in St. James Parish. While the project has not been fully canceled, the resistance represents a growing movement to hold industries and governments accountable. National and international advocacy groups have also joined the fight, amplifying the voices of local activists and pushing for systemic reforms. By framing Cancer Alley as a case study in environmental racism, these groups have tied local struggles to global conversations about climate justice and human rights.

Addressing the crisis in Cancer Alley requires a transformative approach to environmental policy and governance. Strengthening regulatory oversight, empowering communities, and reallocating resources to remediate decades of harm are all critical steps. At the federal level, the EPA must be granted greater authority to enforce environmental protections and penalize violators. This includes rigorous monitoring of industrial emissions, transparent reporting of pollutants, and holding corporations accountable for harm caused to surrounding communities.

Equally important is ensuring that affected communities have a voice in the decision-making process. Residents must be included in discussions about industrial development, zoning, and environmental remediation efforts. Community-led advisory boards, equipped with legal and financial support, can play a crucial role in creating equitable policies that prioritize public health over profit. Investing in green infrastructure and pollution remediation is also vital. Federal programs like Justice40, which directs a portion of climate and energy funding to disadvantaged communities, can help reverse some of the damage inflicted on Cancer Alley. At the state level, Louisiana must transition from its dependence on petrochemical industries by diversifying its economy and investing in renewable energy sectors.

Cancer Alley is not just a regional crisis; it is a national moral failure. The continued suffering of its residents exposes the deep inequities embedded in our economic and environmental systems. As climate change accelerates and the need for sustainable development becomes ever more urgent, the lessons of Cancer Alley must guide future policy decisions.

Communities in Cancer Alley are fighting not only for their own survival but for a broader vision of justice. Their struggle underscores the necessity of rethinking how we balance industrial growth with the rights of people to live in safe, healthy environments. By addressing the systemic injustices that have created Cancer Alley, society has the opportunity to chart a path toward a more equitable and sustainable future. Thanks for reading suge, let’s all do our part in getting rid of these companies and the toxic chemicals they produce. Hurting our loved ones, us, our wet lands even the foods we consume. Below is a list of the well known plants that make up Cancer Alley.

Denka Performance Elastomer – Reserve, Louisiana

Formosa Plastics (Proposed) – St. James Parish, Louisiana

ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery – Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Dow Chemical Company – Plaquemine, Louisiana

Shell Norco Chemical Plant and Refinery – Norco, Louisiana

Marathon Petroleum (Garyville Refinery) – Garyville, Louisiana

BASF Geismar Plant – Geismar, Louisiana

Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyChem) – Convent, Louisiana

Sasol North America – Lake Charles, Louisiana

Shintech Louisiana – Plaquemine, Louisiana

CF Industries Nitrogen Complex — Donaldsonville, Louisiana

OCI Nitrogen (Methanol Facility) — Donaldsonville, Louisiana