Environmental Science, 10th Edition (Cunningham)

Chapter 8: Environmental Health and Toxicology

GE Exercise: Cancer Alley

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To continue:
- Make sure you have the Google Earth software installed and running.
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- Hit “Enter” for Google Earth to take you to the specified coordinates, then come back here and read the following overview.

Latitude/Longitude: 30.2186, -91.0235

Overview: Cancer Alley, p. 165

There are at least 26 chemical factories and tank farms along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Many residents blame myriad health problems on air and water pollution from these facilities. They call this "cancer alley" because of the high incidence of cancer among residents and workers. These facilities produce the plastics you use every day, including everything from plastic bags, to toys, to PVC pipes used in plumbing, and vinyl used in siding houses.

1
 Zoom in to the factory complex next to the place marker. What do the oil storage tanks look like?
A) Square-shaped dark buildings
B) Square-shaped white buildings
C)Round white structures
D) Round dark structures
E)Kidney-shaped yellow pools
2
What are the dark round structures near the industrial complex 1.3 km south-southeast of the place marker?
A)A water treatment system
B)Wine fermentation vats
C)Showering facilities for employees
D)Oil storage tanks painted black
E)Performance amphitheaters
3
Zoom to an eye altitude of about 18,000 km. Now pan slowly down the river (starting at a south-east direction). How many concentrations of tanks and petro-chemical plants can you find between this site and the city of New Orleans?
A)Three or four
B)Seven or eight
C)About ten
D)About 18
E)More than 30
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