Before Hurricane Laura hit the Gulf Coast directly, area residents were regularly exposed to high levels of toxic air pollution.<br />Pollution has been linked to increased levels of cancer and respiratory diseases for communities of color, particularly in Louisiana's so-called 'Cancer Alley.'<br />Now, Hurricane Laura has made the situation even worse, with emissions from chemical fires and oil and gas refinery plants.<br />Unfortunately, Gizmodo reports the amount of pollution Laura threw up is unknown because some important air monitors are still offline.<br />This lack of information doesn't allow residents to know which areas are dangerous. Likewise, it makes it difficult to hold facilities accountable for their pollution.
