Cancer Alley

Cancer Alley refers to a portion of the river Mississippi, which is marked on both sides of the river by a high density of industrial companies, particularly companies in the petrochemical industry as well as 17 oil refineries. The resulting increased concentration of pollutants in the river water and in the air is suspected to be the cause of an above-average incidence of cancer.

Location

The Cancer Alley region referred to is situated in the southern United States in the state of Louisiana and is located along the Mississippi River between the cities of Baton Rouge and New Orleans in the north to the south. The cancer -Allee said the river is about 60 km long.

Background

The U.S. state of Louisiana has one of the highest cancer mortality rates in the U.S. on, but it is debatable whether the high cancer mortality in Louisiana actually the high concentration of companies in the petrochemical industry in the region known as Cancer Alley, or possibly a below-average supply of appropriately specialized medical institutions is the cause. In addition, disputes between environmentalists on one side and representatives of the petrochemical industry on the other hand, if the accumulation of petro- chemical industries in the coastal area of ​​Mississippi really leads to an increased risk of cancer. A clear assessment is difficult because of the numerous responsible for the development of cancer factors.