Louisiana: controversial Denka plant suspends production after dire losses

<p>Chemical plant linked to air pollution and cancer risks in majority-Black region ‘exploring all options for the future’</p><p>A controversial chemical plant in the centre of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/louisiana">Louisiana</a>’s “Cancer Alley” region has indefinitely suspended all production following dire financial results, the facility’s operators <a href="https://www.denka.co.jp/eng/storage/news/pdf/535/20250513_denka_dpe_en.pdf">announced</a> on Tuesday.</p><p>The Denka Performance Elastomer plant in St John Parish has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2019/may/06/cancertown-louisana-reserve-special-report">long been associated</a> with chronic air pollution issues and was the subject of a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/series/cancer-town">years-long Guardian reporting series</a> examining the disproportionate cancer risk rates experienced by the majority-Black fence-line communities that surround the facility.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/13/louisiana-denka-plant-cancer-alley">Continue reading...</a>