In ‘Cancer Alley,' a Battle Over Who Gets to Measure Air Pollution
But a new law in Louisiana makes it illegal to use that data to push for stricter pollution controls or enforcement.
The law requires people to instead buy expensive air-pollution monitors that meet strict Environmental Protection Agency standards, if they're going to use the data to allege violations of clean air laws. People who don't comply face penalties of thousands of dollars a day.
Now, community groups are fighting the law, saying in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday against Louisiana that it violates their constitutional right to free speech. The law enables polluting industries 'to silence the science,' said Caitlion Hunter, director of research and policy at RISE St. James, which leads the air-monitoring efforts.
The Louisiana law was the first of its kind in the country when it went into effect last year. But Kentucky passed a similar law this year and West Virginia's legislature debated a version in February, though it did not pass.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality declined to comment. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill did not respond to requests for comment.
Community air monitoring proliferated across the country under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which made $81 million in grants available for monitoring projects. That came as part of efforts by Congress to help protect communities of color and lower-income neighborhoods, like St. James Parish, which bear a disproportionate burden of industrial air pollution.
Low-cost monitors have been key to that effort, and have been endorsed, and in some cases even loaned or funded, by publicy funded programs.
St. James Parish used a brand of sensor called PurpleAir, which cost less than $300, to monitor for particulate matter, which are emitted from power plants, construction sites and industrial facilities and can trigger heart attacks and respiratory problems like asthma. The sensors were placed at the homes of people living near chemical facilities, Ms. Hunter said. The region also has some of the highest rates of cancer in the country.
Under the new Louisiana law, the group is no longer allowed to publicly discuss data or file complaints using information from PurpleAir sensors. The group says it would instead have to use government-approved particulate monitors that cost almost $60,000 each, beyond their financial reach.
RISE has been tracking spikes in fine particulate matter pollution. This kind of pollution also known as PM 2.5, is made up of solid particles less than 2.5 micrometers in size, which are small enough to enter the bloodstream when inhaled. PM 2.5 is the deadliest form of air pollution, leading to millions of premature deaths each year.
The group had intended to use the data to oppose a plastics plant proposed by Formosa Plastics Group, a Taiwanese plastics manufacturer, Ms. Hunter said. The data showed elevated levels of PM 2.5 in St. James Parish, where several petrochemicals plants already operate.
But using the PurpleAir data this way would likely be prohibited under the new law.
Industry groups that backed the law, known as the Community Air Monitoring Reliability Act, say it ensures data integrity.
The Louisiana Chemical Association said the standards didn't stop anyone from tracking pollution levels, as long as the data didn't trigger enforcement or penalties, or form the basis of a lawsuit.
'Air monitoring is a precise science, and decisions based on that data carry serious consequences,' said David Cresson, president and chief executive of the association, which represents Louisiana's petrochemical industries. 'The goal of this law is not to silence community voices, but to ensure that regulatory action is based on high-quality, validated science.'
PurpleAir didn't respond to questions about the law and the accuracy of its product.
The law has sent 'a chilling effect' through community groups, said Joy Banner, co-founder of The Descendants Project, an environmental group that supports people descended from slaves in Louisiana. The group recently paused plans to publicize more data from its air monitors, she said.
'We simply cannot afford $30,000-plus fines,' she said. 'The law has been unfortunately very effective. It's scaring us away from being able to share the data with our community members who need it the most.'
Peter DeCarlo, an air pollution scientist at Johns Hopkins University, said low-cost sensors like PurpleAir played a critical role in helping communities track air pollutants like PM 2.5, as well as other chemical emissions that aren't tracked by regulators.
Even his own pollution data from cutting-edge mobile labs and sensors might be prohibited from public disclosure under the new law, he said.
Community monitors can be particularly important during accidents at nearby industrial plants and other sources, he said. 'While they are not as accurate as regulatory monitors, they are able to provide real-time information to communities in the places they live and breathe,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
16 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Appeals court upholds Arkansas ban on gender-affirming care for minors
A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a 2021 Arkansas law banning gender-affirming care for minors, ruling that parents 'do not have unlimited authority to make medical decisions for their children.' The St. Louis-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ruled 8-2 that the Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act does not discriminate against transgender people or violate the rights of medical professionals — rejecting a closely watched challenge to the nation's first-of-its-kind ban on gender transition treatment for transgender youth. The SAFE Act also prohibits doctors from referring trans youth to other providers for gender-affirming care, which can include puberty blockers and hormone therapy, among other treatments. Tuesday's ruling follows the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in June, upholding Tennessee's similar ban on gender-affirming care for minors. In the court's majority opinion, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote that Tennessee's ban does not discriminate on the basis of sex and that courts must give elected officials wide latitude to pass legislation when there is scientific and policy debate about the safety of such medical treatments. The 8th Circuit cited the Supreme Court's ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti throughout its majority opinion. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin (R) praised the 8th Circuit's decision Tuesday. 'I applaud the court's decision recognizing that Arkansas has a compelling interest in protecting the physical and psychological health of children and am pleased that children in Arkansas will be protected from risky, experimental procedures with lifelong consequences,' Griffin said in a statement. The American Civil Liberties Association — which brought the original challenge to the 2021 law alongside a doctor who provided gender-affirming care in the state and four transgender youths and their families — slammed the ruling. 'This is a tragically unjust result for transgender Arkansans, their doctors, and their families,' Holly Dickson, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas, said in a statement Tuesday. 'The state had every opportunity and failed at every turn to prove that this law helps children; in fact, this is a dangerous law that harms children. The law has already had a profound impact on families across Arkansas who all deserve a fundamental right to do what is best for their children.' Griffin and the state's medical board filed the appeal with the 8th Circuit in July 2023, after U.S. District Judge James Moody of the Eastern District of Arkansas blocked them from enforcing the state's ban on medical treatment for transitioning young people. Moody had said the ban violated the rights of transgender people and endangered their health: 'Rather than protecting children or safeguarding medical ethics, the evidence showed that the prohibited medical care improves the mental health and well-being of patients and that, by prohibiting it, the state undermined the interests it claims to be advancing.' The 8th Circuit, sitting en banc, reversed Moody's ruling. 'The minors argue that the Act classifies based on sex in violation of the Equal Protection Clause. They argue that a minor's sex determines whether he or she can receive certain medical treatments,' Judge Duane Benton wrote in the 8th Circuit's majority opinion. 'To the contrary, as the Supreme Court explained about a similar Tennessee law, the Act classifies based only on age and medical procedure.' 'The minors alternatively assert that the Act discriminates based on transgender status,' Benton wrote. 'To the contrary, the Act does not classify based on transgender status. Like the Tennessee law upheld by the Supreme Court, the Act effectively divides minors into two groups. In one group are minors seeking drugs or surgeries for the purposes that the Act prohibits. In the other group are minors seeking drugs or surgeries for purposes the Act does not prohibit.'
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Will the west Dayton hospital proposal make it onto the November ballot?
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — The decision to build a new hospital in west Dayton could be in the hands of voters this November. The Clergy Community Coalition held a press conference on Tuesday to announce progress toward reaching their goal. 'We are very pleased to announce that we're turning in 2,800 signatures into the clerk of the commission,' said Bishop Richard Cox, CCC president. It was back to the drawing board after Dayton City Commissioners were split with a 2-2 vote and one abstention just three weeks ago over the imitative to add the hospital petition to the ballot. In just 20 days, the coalition gathered even more signatures from the community, in order to put it on the ballot regardless of the commission's vote. The CCC says it's a step in the right direction, and couldn't have been done without the community's support. 'I think it's a win-win for the city. It would provide adequate health care and alleviate the health care desert that we're now living in,' said Cox. 'It's also a win-win for the city commission because then the politicians that we elected to serve us can still work with us as we pursue this effort.' If the petition goes through the Montgomery County Board of Elections once all the signatures are verified, it will be up to the people of Dayton to make the choice in November. However, the coalition says they still want to work with the commissioners regardless of how they initially voted. 'We're still interested in working with you. We elected you to serve us, and we want to work with you to make sure that the citizens of Dayton in this upcoming election, get the services they need from the people that they have elected,' said Cox. However, if the initiative does pass, there will not be adequate money to immediately build a hospital. The coalition says they plan to go to the state and some potential partners for investment money, although they have not revealed who those partners would be. They also say they are not naive to think the project will happen overnight. But they do have some target goals in mind. 'It's all incremental and it will take time. But our hope would be that we have something standing by 2032,' said Nancy Kiehl, CCC secretary. 2 NEWS reached out to Dayton City Commissioners for comment, with one commissioner replying that he would share a statement once the signatures were verified and in the hands of the board of elections. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
I Got a $4,500 Full-Body MRI to Catch Hidden Health Risks—Here's What It Found
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." I've always believed in being proactive about my health, but like most people, I usually only see a doctor when something feels wrong or if I'm overdue for an annual exam. That changed when I learned about the Prenuvo scan—a whole-body MRI designed to detect serious conditions like cancer, aneurysms, and degenerative diseases before symptoms appear. The idea of a non-invasive, radiation-free scan that could potentially catch issues early intrigued me. Still, I was skeptical. It's not a medically necessary procedure, is quite pricey (more on this later), and not widely available. Would it be just another wellness trend wrapped in high-tech marketing, or could it actually be the latest health breakthrough—or better yet, a life-saving health screening? Prenuvo has gained a lot of attention lately, especially after celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner publicly endorsed it, calling it a 'life-saving machine.' Though I don't have an endless health budget of a Hollywood elite, I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary Enhanced Screening. I'm 27 years old, generally healthy, and have no major concerns aside from some chronic neck pain and degenerative disc disease, of which I've already had imaging and treatment. Still, with a family history of cancer and a growing awareness that symptoms don't always show up until it's too late (I've worked at Prevention for years), the opportunity to really see what's going on inside my body excited me. Meet the experts: Daniel Durand, M.D., M.B.A., chief medical officer and president of Prenuvo Medical Group; Ken Berry, M.D., family physician and co-author of Common Sense Labs; and Mia Kazanjian, M.D., board-certified radiologist specializing in breast and body imaging The entire process, from booking the appointment to the scan itself to my post-scan consultation, was overall a positive experience. In this Prenuvo review, I'll walk through what the appointment was like, the cost, what my screening found, what medical experts think of a (non-medically-necessary) whole-body MRI, and ultimately, whether I think it was worth it. What is a whole-body MRI scan? An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging technique that 'uses protons, magnets, and radio frequency pulses' to create a detailed picture of the inside of the body, says Mia Kazanjian, M.D., board-certified radiologist specializing in breast and body imaging. 'It has no radiation, unlike CT scans and X-rays.' MRI is typically used on individual parts of the body, like the pelvis or the head, on an as-needed basis. Whole-body MRI, on the other hand, does exactly what it sounds like: It uses the same magnetic resonance imaging technology to take a picture of the whole body, which, at Prenuvo, takes about an hour. 'Typically, imaging is done in a very focused manner based on a specific question that another physician is asking,' says Daniel Durand, M.D., M.B.A., chief medical officer and president of Prenuvo Medical Group. 'What Prenuvo does is digitize the entire body. You can think of Prenuvo as a tech-enabled, direct-to-specialist care model. We're digitizing the human body with the most powerful tool, which is MRI, and then we're having a radiologist do a head-to-toe, on the inside, examination of the patient.' An important note about the limitations of whole-body MRI: 'Preunvo exists to layer on top of existing screenings. This is in addition to, not a replacement of, and we have always said that,' Dr. Durand explains. 'The idea is that if you have a primary care doctor and you're doing your routine screenings, Prenuvo supercharges all that. Our belief is that whole body MRI, plus existing screenings, offers a level of diagnostic accuracy and reassurance that goes beyond anything that came before.' Ken Berry, M.D., family physician and co-author of Common Sense Labs, agrees that right now, whole-body MRI doesn't replace guideline-based screening (like colonoscopies or mammograms). 'It's a supplemental tool, not a substitute,' he says. 'Whole-body MRI can detect early cancers, aneurysms, and neurological issues, but it's not always better than traditional screening.' Dr. Berry says if you have a strong family history of cancer, a genetic risk, or a history of serious illness, it may be worth considering, but he's cautious about recommending it for the average healthy adult. My experience I underwent the Enhanced Screening, the most thorough evaluation Prenuvo offers. This included a whole-body MRI, which covered the brain, chest, abdomen, pelvis, spine, and major vasculature, free from radiation or contrast; a body composition analysis and advanced brain health assessment (taken during the MRI); and a comprehensive bloodwork panel. The actual experience of getting the MRI was fairly painless. Before the procedure, I was sent a fairly lengthy survey of my medical history to determine whether it was safe for me to undergo the scan and ascertain any health concerns I may have. I also took Prenuvo up on the offer to take a light sedative before heading in to ease any anxiety or claustrophobia to make the experience more comfortable. Then, I arrived at the Manhattan location ready to sit still in an MRI machine for just about an hour. Surprisingly, that hour went by pretty quickly. They gave me the option to choose a show or movie to watch on Netflix during the scan (I decided on Ginny and Georgia), which helped move things along mentally. Before I knew it, I was heading home, where a nurse from a concierge service employed by Prenuvo later drew my blood for the bloodwork portion. About two weeks after my scan, Prenuvo reached out to schedule my post-scan consultation with Vikash Modi, M.D., senior medical director of preventative medicine at Prenuvo. My virtual consultation with Dr. Modi lasted about 45 minutes, and he walked me through my scan, all of my bloodwork, my body composition analysis, and brain health assessment. He also answered any questions I had and gave me a few suggestions regarding my health moving forward. The results About a week prior to officially receiving my results, I got a call from Dr. Modi to discuss one potentially urgent finding from my bloodwork. My blood panel showed that I had a glucose level of 38, which can be very dangerous. We discussed that this was likely due to fasting all day before the bloodwork (which I had scheduled for 3:00 p.m.), as my A1c (a blood test that measures the average blood glucose from the last two-to-three months) was normal. But I was advised to repeat bloodwork with my primary care physician as a precaution. Dr. Modi then reassured me that there were no other major findings on my scan or my bloodwork, but that we would discuss it further at my official consultation. Fast forward to that appointment: Dr. Modi thoroughly went over my results, starting with my bloodwork, then my scan, the brain health assessment, and finally body composition analysis. Thankfully, my bloodwork showed I'm in good health, which was reassuring since the blood panel was very comprehensive. However, as Dr. Berry explains, 'comprehensive' doesn't always mean 'useful.' While it did give me a lot of peace of mind, Dr. Berry says that 'although most doctors don't order enough bloodwork, as I discuss in Common Sense Labs, it is also true that ordering too much labwork creates a new set of problems,' including confusion and the potential for reacting when it may not be medically needed. My scan, however, did show one moderate finding, four minor findings, and one informational finding. In addition to my virtual consultation with Dr. Modi, I was able to visit the Prenuvo online dashboard, which features an interactive and informative report. FLAIR hyperintense lesion, right frontal lobe. This sounds scary, but it was actually one of my 'minor findings.' On the Prenuvo app, it was labeled a 'small vessel ischemia,' which is a term describing the changes that occur by disrupting the small blood vessels in the brain, and is often a sign of poor cardiovascular health. However, Dr. Modi reassured me that the online interface is always being updated, and that the patient-facing side doesn't always align perfectly with the clinical interpretation. In my case, it may have been caused by head injuries I sustained during my time as a cheerleader. I had no signs of white matter disease, aneurysm, growths, or masses, and overall, my brain volume was very healthy. Scoliosis. I knew about this 'minor finding' previously from a recent X-ray. I have 'mild' scoliosis in my lumbar spine. Spondyloarthropathy of the cervical and thoracic spine. These are two 'minor findings' I was also aware of from previous imaging. Spondyloarthropathy is the medical term for degenerative arthritis. I have long struggled with neck and upper back pain, and have been undergoing treatment (mainly physical therapy) for a few months now. Discussing these findings with Dr. Modi reassured me that I'm doing everything right in my current treatment plan. Hemorrhagic ovarian cysts. This was my only 'moderate finding;' one that I was not previously aware of. While I'm not experiencing any symptoms due to these benign, fluid-filled ovarian cysts, I'm glad I know about them now in case they ever do rupture or cause any complications. While Dr. Modi didn't officially diagnose me, he suggested these may be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) due to my semi-irregular menstrual cycle, history of acne, and recent struggle to lose weight. He suggested some supplements I might consider taking and made me aware of the typical treatment and medications doctors usually prescribe, should I ever seek that. Dense breast tissue. The scan also revealed that I have dense breast tissue, which means I have more glandular tissue (as opposed to fat tissue) in my breasts, which may make it more difficult to screen for breast cancer with a typical mammogram. I was already aware of this, as I have a history of breast cysts, which is why I get regular ultrasounds. I was a little surprised the Prenuvo MRI did not pick these up, but Dr. Modi explained that the threshold for breast cysts at Prenuvo is around five millimeters. So, anything smaller than that (which my cysts likely are) would not be picked up by the MRI. 'It's a see-a-lot test, not a see-everything test,' Dr. Modi said. Following my bloodwork and MRI scan, Dr. Modi went over my brain health assessment, which measured the volume of every structure within the brain. Thankfully, all of those structures in my brain fell into normal ranges. Finally, we discussed my body composition analysis, which showed data for total muscle mass, subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat. This test is very useful, says Dr. Berry. 'Knowing visceral fat and muscle mass is much better than just looking at Body Mass Index (BMI),' he explains. (Note: Prevention no longer uses BMI as a measurement of health.) Again, thankfully, Dr. Modi ensured that for the most part, my analysis falls into 'normal' ranges for my age and sex, except that I actually have a bit more muscle mass than average, which is a good thing. This test was really interesting to look at because it included a very detailed analysis of hip and lower body muscle volume, as well as a symmetry analysis. None of this was major, but it did confirm a few things I suspected about the way my body works and moves. Are whole-body MRIs the future of preventative healthcare? It's difficult to say. 'The essence of what Prenuvo does, and I think it's poorly understood, is that we don't by ourselves prevent anything. But, we can absolutely help a patient choose their own destiny and pursue the right preventative strategies, because we can show them what's going on in them, as opposed to just general advice,' Dr. Durand explains. However, as Dr. Durand and the Prenuvo website state, there are limitations. I asked Dr. Berry, an unaffiliated family physician, whether whole-body MRIs can meaningfully replace or reduce the need for standard individualized screenings based on modern-day recommendations. He said, not right now. It doesn't replace guideline-based screening. 'It can't do what a colonoscopy or mammogram does, and it doesn't offer the same level of detail. It's a supplemental tool, not a substitute,' Dr. Berry explained. 'If it could fully replace traditional tests, I'd be on board, but the evidence just isn't there yet.' Dr. Kazanjian adds that whole-body MRI 'tends to be more effective at detecting lesions in the kidneys, pancreas, lymph nodes, and bones, among some others,' but that the screening's ability to characterize them as benign or malignant may be limited. She adds that whole-body MRI does not effectively screen for some of the most common cancers, including skin cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and cervical cancer. And while there will certainly be 'findings of import on these exams,' including brain aneurysms, evidence of autoimmune diseases, metabolic syndromes, and small cancers, among others, Dr. Kazanjian explains, it's impossible to say whether whole-body MRI truly leads to improved health outcomes or whether those results would be uncovered via traditional screening methods. There's also the aspect of incidental or benign findings, which are clinically insignificant (meaning they cause no harm), but create a type of 'scanxiety,' or anxiety felt by patients pre- and post-scan, Dr. Kazanjian says. The cost and impact My Enhanced Screening at the Manhattan location has a cost of $4,500, but it varies based on the exact scan you choose, and sometimes, the location. There are less costly options, like the regular whole-body MRI ($2,500) or the torso-only MRI ($999). Prenuvo also offers its Warriors Program, which offers discounted services to first responders, military members, and veterans. While some doctors, like Dr. Kazanjian, do recommend whole-body MRI for high-risk individuals (like those with a strong family history of cancer and/or genetic mutations) and for patients with cancers such as multiple myeloma and lymphoma, it is generally not recommended for the general population, she explains. 'I do not think this is cost-effective for the population, particularly given the large percentage of false positives with the necessity for costly follow-ups,' says Dr. Kazanjian. 'I say this even if the initial service were cost-free.' Dr. Durand also acknowledges that not everybody can afford the Prenuvo model of healthcare today. That's why he says Prenuvo is working every day to harness the powers of artificial intelligence to become more efficient, which will allow them to bring prices down long-term. In terms of side effects, MRI, including whole-body MRI, is mostly safe. The 'scanxiety' and inconsequential benign findings that Dr. Kazanjian points out are the main downsides. As with any MRI, it's important to tell your doctor and radiologist if you have any metal or electrical implants in your body (such as pacemakers and infusion pumps), as the magnetic field generated by the MRI machine can pose a hazard to patients in these cases. The detailed questionnaire sent over by the Prenuvo team before your appointment covers these in length, and your radiologist will also inquire about any metal in or on your body before your scan. The bottom line 'These scans have potential and may help in the future, but right now they're best for people with high risk or specific concerns or a lot of disposable income,' Dr. Berry explains. 'For the average person, they often create more questions than answers. Too much testing can lead to fear, cost, and harm, especially when there's no clear benefit. Prevention and early detection are very important, but it has to be reasonable and relevant, not just expensive.' Reflecting on my experience with the whole-body MRI at Prenuvo, I feel fortunate to have had access to such advanced technology. The scan provided valuable insights into my body's health that I wouldn't have otherwise had. However, while I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to those who have the resources and are curious about their health, I do believe it's important to approach it with a balanced perspective. From a cost-benefit standpoint, it's not yet a universally essential tool in healthcare, and its value largely depends on individual circumstances and priorities. 'The best advice I can give to the people reading this is the advice I live by and the advice I give my patients. This is the same advice I give my mother—and I love my mother. It's to live a healthy life—keep a healthy weight, eat whole grains and vegetables and lean protein, exercise regularly, sleep seven hours a night, avoid tobacco and alcohol, and get annual checkups, recommended screenings, and vaccines with your doctor,' Dr. Kazanjian says. 'Prevention is the best medicine.' You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
