Pregnant women in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” face significantly higher risks of premature births and low birth weight babies, a Human Rights Watch report reveals. The 85-mile stretch along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, home to about 200 petrochemical plants and refineries, has long been associated with elevated cancer rates. Now, research shows its impact extends to infant health.
In the most polluted areas, low birth weight rates reach 27%, more than triple the national average of 8.5%. Preterm birth rates climb as high as 25.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 10.4%.
“Our study reveals that pollution brings more than cancer to Louisiana — it puts babies at risk for low birth weight and pre-term births,” said Kimberly Terrell, one of the study’s authors.
These conditions can lead to lifelong health issues. Ashley Gaignard, a Donaldsonville resident, shared that all three of her children were born underweight. Her son Jason, born prematurely, developed severe asthma requiring frequent hospitalizations.
The report, based on interviews with 37 Cancer Alley residents, highlights the disproportionate impact on predominantly Black and low-income communities. “Louisiana residents identified industrial pollution as the cause of reproductive problems in the 1980s. Science is finally catching up,” Terrell added.
The findings underscore urgent calls for action to address the region’s public health crisis. Experts suggest that removing polluting facilities could bring rapid improvements, citing a San Francisco study where preterm births decreased significantly after a coal plant closure.
Human Rights Watch urges state and federal officials to take immediate steps to protect the health of Cancer Alley residents and their unborn children.
See “Pregnant women in ‘Cancer Alley’ more likely to give birth prematurely and to babies with low birth weight: Report” (January 25, 2024)
