The Big Story 

Carcinogenic ethylene oxide was found in higher-than expected levels in a heavily polluted area known as “Cancer Alley,” according to a new study. 

© Giles Clarke/Getty Images

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University detected ethylene oxide at significantly higher levels than modeling from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows, said senior study author Peter DeCarlo.

The substance, which is used to sterilize medical devices and spices,  increases risks of cancers including breast cancer. 

DeCarlo said the results suggest that polluters are underreporting how much they emit — by a factor of between two and 10. 

This means cancer risk due to exposure to the substance is greater than previously believed.

“Cancer Alley” is the nickname of an industrial area of Louisiana that is also home to predominantly Black communities who face significant levels of pollution of various chemicals. 

Read more in a full report at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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