Air in Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’ likely more toxic than previously thought

New research reveals levels of ethylene oxide more than 1,000 times above previous measurements

The air throughout south-east Louisiana's Cancer Alley" is probably being poisoned with a highly carcinogenic gas at levels much higher than previously thought, new research reveals.

Using cutting-edge equipment that more accurately checks for the gas, ethylene oxide, which is primarily used in plastic production, researchers found levels more than 1,000 times above previous measurements, and about 10 times higher on average than regulators' modeling.