Louisiana law limits community air data amid industry concerns over scrutiny

Residents in Louisiana, particularly near industrial facilities, are facing challenges in monitoring and addressing toxic air pollution. Kimbrelle Kyereh, living near chemical storage tanks in St. Rose, has experienced health issues like headaches and nausea from oily fumes. After years of enduring noxious odors, she began collecting air samples in her yard for an environmental justice group in 2023. However, a new law, supported by industry, was passed in Louisiana that significantly restricts the use of such community-collected data. This legislation comes at a time when many heavily polluting facilities in the state lack adequate public air monitoring. Ten of Louisiana's top air-polluting facilities, based on EPA data, have no public monitors within a five-mile radius. For instance, Dow Chemical's plastics factory in Plaquemine is about eight miles from the nearest station, which only measures ozone, despite the plant releasing various toxic pollutants including carcinogenic ethylene oxide. Furthermore, no public monitors in the state measure ammonia, even though CF Industries' Donaldsonville plant releases over 7 million pounds of this hazardous chemical annually. Crucially, the state does not monitor three key chemicals—ethylene oxide, chloroprene, and formaldehyde—which researchers identify as major contributors to the area's total cancer risk.