Chloroprene: The Chemical Behind Cancer Alley’s Latest Lawsuit
On March 20, 2023, the United States Department of Justice filed a complaint against Denka Performance Elastomer — the only chloroprene plant in the United States — alleging public health endangerment due to carcinogenic air pollution.
Chloroprene is a chemical used in the production of neoprene, which in turn is used to create wetsuits, beer cozies, laptop sleeves, orthopedic braces, and automotive belts and hoses. Chloroprene is also a known carcinogen. The Denka plant is located in the Black-majority community of LaPlace, Louisiana.
LaPlace is part of “Cancer Alley,” an 85-mile stretch of land in Louisiana where low-income and minority communities have been exposed to a disproportionate risk of cancer due to the concentration of petrochemical plants and fossil fuel refineries.
This episode of “The Sweaty Penguin” examines how the Denka plant has impacted the surrounding community, and how LaPlace, and other Cancer Alley communities like it, can ensure a healthier future. With special guest Dr. Kimberly Terrell, Research Scientist and Director of Community Engagement at Tulane University’s Environmental Law Clinic.
