Editing Cancer Alley (section)

== Criticism ==

The EPA, in both 2016 and 2020, reported that those residing in Cancer Alley are exposed to more than 10 times “the level of health risk from hazardous air pollutants” than other residents in the state. Human Rights Watch reviewed data from 12 fossil fuel and petrochemical plants operating in the Cancer Alley area from October 2020 to November 2023. Out of these 12 facilities, only one of them was “reported in compliance with all three federal laws” in the 3-year observational period. Only 2 of these facilities “were in compliance with the Clean Water Act” as well.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Juhasz |first=Antonia |date=2024-01-25 |title="We're Dying Here" |url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2024/01/25/were-dying-here/fight-life-louisiana-fossil-fuel-sacrifice-zone |journal=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}</ref>

On January 27, 2021, President [[Joe Biden]] signed an executive order regarding environmental justice and specifically cited Cancer Alley as a hard-hit area.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baurick |first=Tristan |title=Biden utters the words 'Cancer Alley,' but will he help Louisiana's chemical corridor? |url=https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_0ced9da4-61b1-11eb-af00-fb2987cd8fb2.html |access-date=2021-03-30 |website=NOLA.com |date=January 28, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327152151/https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_0ced9da4-61b1-11eb-af00-fb2987cd8fb2.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser responded to President Biden's remarks on the region, refuting claims that residents of the industrial corridor have a higher risk of developing cancer in multiple articles.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Letter to the Editor: 'Cancer Alley' moniker unwarranted by research|url=https://www.hannapub.com/ouachitacitizen/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letter-to-the-editor-cancer-alley-moniker-unwarranted-by-research/article_94df525c-76b5-11eb-9231-d3b8b37c4518.html|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Hanna Newspapers|date=February 24, 2021 |language=en|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413145037/https://www.hannapub.com/ouachitacitizen/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letter-to-the-editor-cancer-alley-moniker-unwarranted-by-research/article_94df525c-76b5-11eb-9231-d3b8b37c4518.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-21|title=Opinion: The Data Doesn't Support "Cancer Alley" Designation in Louisiana|url=https://www.houmatimes.com/opinion/opinion-the-data-doesnt-support-cancer-alley-designation-in-louisiana/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=The Times of Houma/Thibodaux|language=en-US|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413145037/https://www.houmatimes.com/opinion/opinion-the-data-doesnt-support-cancer-alley-designation-in-louisiana/|url-status=live}}</ref> Furthermore, he cited Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) data to support his claims.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowser |first=Greg |title=Louisiana industry: 'Cancer alley' is false description of health problems |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_94a356c6-6bc0-11eb-8d41-ab20e7dcebae.html |access-date=2021-03-30 |website=The Advocate |date=February 12, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413200716/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_94a356c6-6bc0-11eb-8d41-ab20e7dcebae.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite journal|title=Cancer Incidence in Louisiana by Census Tract|url=https://sph.lsuhsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/01_Cancer-Incidence-in-LA-by-Census-Tract-2008-2017.pdf|journal=Louisiana Tumor Registry|access-date=April 13, 2021|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413145037/https://sph.lsuhsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/01_Cancer-Incidence-in-LA-by-Census-Tract-2008-2017.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The LTR claims that there has not been an increase in cancer deaths connected to industrial pollution.<ref name=":12" />

On March 2, 2021, the United Nations (UN) [[United Nations Human Rights Committee|Human Rights Committee]] discussed the continued industrial projects along the [[Mississippi River]] in Louisiana. The UN council on contemporary racism strongly condemned what they defined as [[environmental racism]] in their discussion with experts and other UN officials:<blockquote>This form of environmental racism poses serious and disproportionate threats to the enjoyment of several human rights of its largely African American residents, including the right to equality and non-discrimination, the [[right to life]], the [[right to health]], right to an adequate standard of living and cultural rights.</blockquote>The sentiments stated by environmental activists were echoed by the Human Rights Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|title=USA: Environmental racism in "Cancer Alley" must end – experts|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26824&LangID=E|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302134648/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26824&LangID=E |publisher=United Nations Human Rights Committee|archive-date=2021-03-02 }}</ref>

As of 2019 activists and locals have disputed the conclusions of the Louisiana Tumor Registry asserting the tracts used cover large areas and the data does not allow for specific locations adjacent to chemical plants to be analyzed individually.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Gordon|title=Health officials in "Cancer Alley" will study if living near a controversial chemical plant causes cancer|url=https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2019/11/health-officials-in-cancer-alley-will-study-if-living-near-a-controversial-chemical-plant-causes-cancer/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Mother Jones|language=en-US|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413145036/https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2019/11/health-officials-in-cancer-alley-will-study-if-living-near-a-controversial-chemical-plant-causes-cancer/|url-status=live}}</ref> They also posited that the data may be incomplete as those who died during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] who also had cancer might not be included.<ref name=Dermansky2021>{{Cite web|last=Dermansky|first=Julie|date=2021-02-25|title=From Pollution to the Pandemic, Racial Equity Eludes Louisiana's Cancer Alley Community|url=https://www.desmogblog.com/2021/02/25/pollution-pandemic-racial-equity-eludes-louisiana-cancer-alley-community/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=DeSmog|language=en-US|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412211055/https://www.desmogblog.com/2021/02/25/pollution-pandemic-racial-equity-eludes-louisiana-cancer-alley-community/|url-status=live}}</ref>  In 2008, Louisiana health officials were unable to release the specific cases and data because of [[medical privacy]] laws.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-05-07|title=Your Rights Under HIPAA|url=https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/guidance-materials-for-consumers/index.html|publisher=Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health & Human Services|access-date=2021-04-13|website=HHS.gov|language=en|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413105636/https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/guidance-materials-for-consumers/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>