HJBR Jul/Aug 2024

42 JUL / AUG 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs Feeding Louisiana is a statewide network of five food banks that works to alleviate hunger and food insecurity across the state. These include Food Bank of Central Louisiana, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, and Food Bank of North- west Louisiana. With a shared mission to eradicate hunger, Feeding Louisiana’s member food banks sup- port individuals and families facing food inse- curity. Feeding Louisiana’s dedication to serving communities in need aligns with the mission of the CSFP. Louisiana CSFP has been administered at the local level through a contract between LDH’s Bureau of Nutrition Services and the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans since 1986. Catholic Charities, through its Food for Seniors Program, has been the sole provider of CSFP local services for many years and currently has distribution sites throughout the state. Catholic Charities made the decision to discon- tinue its partnership with LDH. Impacted CSFP participants are being notified by phone call and written correspondence. For questions, please contact Jessica Bostic, the Feeding Louisiana designated contact per- son for the CSFP contract transfer, at jbostic@ feedinglouisiana.org or by phone at (877) 354- 7192. Tamara Dangerfield is the CSFP Program Manager at LDH. Dangerfield can be reached at tamara.dangerfield@la.gov or (225) 342-8254. The Gerontology Program at FranciscanMissionaries of Our Lady University Joins the Age-Friendly University Global Network The Gerontology Program at Franciscan Mis- sionaries of Our Lady University (Gero at FranU) announced its new partnership with the Age- Friendly University Global Network. “This moment marks a significant step forward in our collective commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals of all ages in academia,” says Alicia Bates, direc- tor, Family Nurse Practitioner Program at FranU. “Together, we will work towards building a global community where individuals of all ages feel valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.” Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute Attains Reaccreditation fromAmerican College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute announced that it has received reaccreditation under the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) Accreditation Pro- gram. Our Lady of the Lake first received accred- itation in 1990. New Study Shows Cancer Alley Is Still Spewing Toxic Chemicals The recently released paper “Ethylene Oxide in Southeastern Louisiana’s Petrochemical Corridor: High Spatial Resolution Mobile Monitoring dur- ing HAP-MAP” in Environmental Science & Tech- nology presents detailed findings on the ambient concentrations of ethylene oxide (EtO) in a heav- ily industrialized region of southeastern Louisiana. Here’s a summary of the key points: Abstract Focus: The study investigates ambient EtO con- centrations using mobile monitoring methods. Methods: In situ, fast (1 Hz), sensitive EtO mea- surements were conducted in February 2023. Findings: • Average mixing ratios were reported for a 75 km stretch of the industrial corridor. • Mean and median aggregated values were 31.4 ppt and 23.3 ppt, respectively. • Majority (75%) of 500 m grid cells had EtO concentrations above 10.9 ppt, which corre- sponds to a 100-in-one-million excess can- cer risk. • A small subset (3.3%) exceeded 109 ppt (1000-in-one-million cancer risk), mostly near EtO-emitting facilities. • Plumes correlated with other gases, indicat- ing potential emission sources. • EtO concentrations for 13 census tracts were higher than EPA estimates. Introduction EtO characteristics: EtO is a VOC used in the production of various chemicals and as a ster- ilizing agent. It is a known human carcinogen, associated with cancers like leukemia, myeloma, lymphoma, and breast cancer. Emission Sources: Around 20% of U.S. EtO emissions are from sterilization operations, with 75% from petrochemical manufacturing. A signif- icant portion of emissions are fugitive, from leaks in industrial equipment. Health Risks: Non-occupational exposure is highest near EtO production and processing facil- ities. Southeastern Louisiana is a significant EtO emitter, with higher cancer risks linked to indus- trial air pollution, affecting marginalized commu- nities disproportionately. Methodology Mobile Monitoring: Utilized commercial optical instruments for real-time EtO detection across the industrial corridor. Spatial Analysis: Examined spatial patterns of EtO concentrations and compared census tract- level estimates with EPA’s modeled data Results and Discussion EtO Concentrations: The study found high EtO concentrations, especially near emission sources, highlighting the need for precise, real-time moni- toring to assess public health risks. Comparison with EPA Estimates: The study’s findings showed higher EtO levels than EPA esti- mates, suggesting potential underestimation of exposure risks in existing models. Conclusion Significance: The findings provide crucial data on EtO levels in a key industrial region, empha- sizing the importance of accurate, high-resolution monitoring for environmental health assessments and regulatory purposes. This summary encapsulates the essence of the research, focusing on the main objectives, meth- ods, findings, and implications regarding ethyl- ene oxide exposure in Southeastern Louisiana. What does this study mean for the residents of cancer alley? The findings from the study on ethylene oxide (EtO) concentrations in Southeastern Louisiana’s petrochemical corridor have several important implications for the residents of “Cancer Alley”: