County · TRI 2024

Rapides Parish, Louisiana Pollution

10 top TRI facilities tracked here. PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) fell modestly year over year (-10%). PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) concentrations have fallen 40% since 2010.

FIPS 22079 · population 129,536

PM2.5 ANNUAL MEAN (NAAQS 9 ΜG/M³ (ANNUAL)) · 20102024
Bar chart of annual values from 2010 to 2024, in µg/m³. Most recent year (2024): 8 µg/m³.13 µg/m³'10'12'14'16'18'20'22'248 µg/m³
Anomaly engine

Notable Signals

LONG-ARC IMPROVEMENT · LONG-ARC SHIFT

Total TRI releases

Total TRI releases at Rapides Parish County have more than halved since 2010 (through 2024).

Top facilities mapped

Where Chemicals Are Released In Rapides Parish

Each red dot is one of the top TRI facilities. Size reflects 2024 total releases. County boundary outlined in blue.

STYLE10 TRI facilities · Rapides Parish
Pollutant pathways

Rapides Parish Pollutant Multi-Year Trends

CRITERIA AIRSINCE 2010

PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual))Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.

8.01 µg/m³ · -10% YoY · -40% since 2010

PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) concentrations have fallen 40% since 2010.

CRITERIA AIRSINCE 2010

PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile (NAAQS 35 µg/m³ (24-hour))Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.

23.10 µg/m³ · +20% YoY · -23% since 2010

PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile (NAAQS 35 µg/m³ (24-hour)) concentrations have fallen 23% since 2010.

HAZARDOUS AIR2020 VINTAGE

Lifetime cancer risk all pollutants (100 in a million (EPA elevated threshold))Health riskEPA-modeled added cancer cases per million residents from a lifetime of breathing local air toxics. EPA flags 100-in-a-million as elevated.

30.0 per million · 2020 vintage

Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.

HAZARDOUS AIR2020 VINTAGE

Formaldehyde ambient mean (0.077 µg/m³ (1-in-a-million URE))Health riskAn air toxic emitted by refineries, wood products, and combustion. EPA classifies it as a known human carcinogen — long-term inhalation raises cancer risk.

1.89 µg/m³ · 2020 vintage

Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.

HAZARDOUS AIR2020 VINTAGE

Benzene ambient mean (0.13 µg/m³ (1-in-a-million URE))Health riskAn air toxic from gasoline, refineries, and tobacco smoke. A known human carcinogen — chronic exposure is linked to leukemia and other blood cancers.

0.10 µg/m³ · 2020 vintage

Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.

TRI AIRSINCE 2010

TRI air releases (5.1 fugitive + 5.2 stack)Health riskToxic chemicals reported by industrial facilities as released into the air — fugitive leaks plus smokestack emissions. Higher pounds means more inhaled exposure for nearby residents.

281k lb · -14% YoY · -22% since 2010

TRI air releases (5.1 fugitive + 5.2 stack) concentrations have fallen 22% since 2010.

TRI WATERSINCE 2010

TRI water releases (5.3)Health riskToxic chemicals reported by industrial facilities as discharged to surface waters (rivers, lakes, the ocean). Affects fishing, recreation, and downstream drinking-water intakes.

3k lb · -2% YoY · since 2010

TRI water releases (5.3) volumes here are too small to anchor a multi-year trend; YoY movement is still shown above.

TRI LANDSINCE 2010

TRI land + off-site releasesHealth riskToxic chemicals released to land on-site or transferred off-site for disposal — landfills, deep-well injection, and similar. Risks groundwater contamination over time.

66k lb · -66% YoY · -88% since 2010

TRI land + off-site releases concentrations have more than halved since 2010.

GHGSINCE 2010

Greenhouse gases (GHGRP large emitters, through 2023)Health riskGreenhouse gases reported by large industrial emitters under EPA's GHGRP, in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent. Drives climate warming and the heat-related health effects that follow.

4.4M metric tons CO₂e · -28% YoY · -22% since 2010

Greenhouse gases (GHGRP large emitters, through 2023) concentrations have fallen 22% since 2010.

Top facilities · 2024

Where The Chemical Releases Are Concentrated

FacilityCityTop chemicalTotal releasesYoY
Brame Energy CenterCleco Corporate Holdings LLCLenaHydrogen fluoride276k lb-30%
Boise Cascade Wood Products Alexandria EwpBoise Cascade CoLenaMethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA)37k lb+8%
Stella-Jones CorpStella-Jones US Holding CORPAlexandriaCreosoteHealth riskCoal-tar creosote is an IARC Group 2A probable carcinogen; PAH-rich preservative used in railroad ties and utility poles. (IARC, EPA)11k lb-2%
Stella-Jones CorpStella-Jones US Holding CORPPinevilleCreosoteHealth riskCoal-tar creosote is an IARC Group 2A probable carcinogen; PAH-rich preservative used in railroad ties and utility poles. (IARC, EPA)10k lb-9%
Hexion INC - Alexandria PlantHexion Holdings CORPAlexandriaMethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA)7k lb+44%
US Army National Guard-Camp Beauregard Range(S)US Department Of DefensePinevilleLeadHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR)6k lb-26%
Union Tank Car - Alexandria Manufacturing FacilityBerkshire Hathaway INCAlexandriaXylene (mixed isomers)Health riskEye, skin, and respiratory irritant; central-nervous-system effects from chronic exposure. (EPA)669 lb+99%
Eclectic Products LLCThe Willamette Valley Co LLCPinevilleTolueneHealth riskCentral-nervous-system depressant. Chronic high exposure causes hearing loss and developmental effects. (EPA, ATSDR)626 lb-81%
Procter & Gamble Manufacturing CO Alexandria PlantThe Procter & Gamble CoPinevilleHydrogen sulfideHealth riskAcutely toxic at high concentrations (paralyzes the olfactory nerve, then respiratory failure); chronic low-level exposure causes eye and respiratory irritation. (NIOSH)350 lb-0%
Rinker Alexandria PipeQuikrete HoldingsAlexandriaLeadHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR)0 lb-24%
Superfund / NPL sites

Federal Cleanup Sites In Rapides Parish

Sites on EPA's Superfund National Priorities List, plus deleted sites whose cleanup objectives EPA has finalized. Federal-facility sites (defense, DOE, etc.) are flagged separately. Each link routes to a per-site page.

Methodology →

SiteCityStatusFederal facilityPrimary contaminant
Ruston FoundryAlexandriaDELETEDNoAntimonyHealth riskInhaled antimony trioxide is an IARC Group 2B possible carcinogen; respiratory and cardiovascular effects from long-term exposure. EPA MCL 6 µg/L. (IARC, EPA)
Equity context · ACS 2018-2022 · USEPA-clone EJ disparity

Who Lives In Rapides Parish

All block groups in Rapides Parish County, LA: 129,536 residents. County disparity score for pm2.5 (fine particulate) sits below the reference (64). Why we surface this →

POPULATION SHARE
18.3%

Low-income

POPULATION SHARE
39.5%

People of color

POPULATION SHARE
6.7%

Under age 5

POPULATION SHARE
16.4%

Over age 64

NATIONAL PERCENTILE · vs all US block groups (population-weighted; ranked against the national EJScreen indicator distribution)

  • PM2.5 (fine particulate)Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.39below the national median
  • OzoneHealth riskGround-level ozone (smog) inflames the airways. Even short exposures trigger asthma attacks and worsen chronic lung and heart disease.16below the national median
  • Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)Health riskA tailpipe and combustion gas. Concentrates near busy roads and industrial sites; raises risk of airway inflammation, asthma, and lower respiratory infections in children.32below the national median
  • Diesel particulateHealth riskSoot from diesel engines (trucks, trains, ports, construction). EPA classifies it as a likely human carcinogen and a major driver of childhood asthma near freight corridors.20below the national median
  • Toxic releases (RSEI)Health riskEPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators score — weights TRI chemical releases by toxicity, where they go, and how many people are nearby. Higher means greater modeled cancer and chronic-health risk.35below the national median
  • Traffic proximityHealth riskPopulation-weighted distance to high-volume roads. Living close to heavy traffic raises exposure to PM2.5, NO₂, and diesel exhaust — and the cardiovascular and asthma risks that follow.23below the national median
  • Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing)Health riskShare of housing built before 1960, when lead-based paint was common. Dust from deteriorating paint is the leading cause of childhood lead poisoning, which permanently impairs cognitive development.57near the national median
  • Superfund site proximityHealth riskPopulation-weighted distance to NPL Superfund sites — the most contaminated waste sites in the country. Nearby groundwater, soil, and air can carry industrial solvents, metals, and other long-lived contaminants.56near the national median
  • RMP-facility proximityHealth riskDistance to facilities holding chemicals at quantities large enough to require an EPA Risk Management Plan (refineries, fertilizer plants, etc.). These pose acute exposure risk during accidental releases.87in the highest 20% nationally
  • Hazardous-waste site proximityHealth riskDistance to RCRA hazardous-waste handlers (treatment, storage, disposal facilities). Indicates potential exposure to industrial chemicals in air, soil, and groundwater.53near the national median
  • Underground storage tanksHealth riskDensity of underground tanks (gasoline, heating oil, industrial fluids). Leaking tanks are a leading source of benzene and other volatile organic compounds in groundwater drinking-water supplies.64above the national median
  • NPDES wastewater proximityHealth riskDistance to permitted industrial wastewater dischargers. Closer proximity raises exposure to pollutants released into surface waters used for fishing, recreation, and downstream drinking-water intakes.98in the highest 5% nationally
  • Drinking-water non-complianceHealth riskEPA score for public water systems with health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violations. Higher means more residents on systems that recently exceeded safe limits for contaminants like lead, arsenic, or nitrate.76above the national median
EJ disparity scores · population-weighted across county block groups (100 = national reference; higher = greater disparate burden)
IndicatorDisparity scoreReading
PM2.5 (fine particulate)64below the reference
Ozone20well below the reference
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)66below the reference
Diesel particulate41well below the reference
Toxic releases (RSEI)55below the reference
Traffic proximity40well below the reference
Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing)79below the reference
Superfund site proximity0well below the reference
RMP-facility proximity119moderately above the reference
Hazardous-waste site proximity75below the reference
Underground storage tanks87below the reference
NPDES wastewater proximity134moderately above the reference
Drinking-water non-compliance2well below the reference

Source: Census ACS 2018-2022 (5-year) + USEPA-clone EJ blockgroup stats (raw indicators + EJ disparity mirror).

Health context

Co-Located Health Indicators

Modeled adult-prevalence estimates published by CDC PLACES, paired with this county's pollution and demographic context. Comparisons are ecological, not causal — pollution and disease prevalence covary at the area level, but the data does not attribute any individual's diagnosis to local exposure. How this section works →

Adult asthma (current)

BRFSS 2023
10.6%
+3% vs Louisiana mean+7% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

COPD prevalence

BRFSS 2023
9.2%
+7% vs Louisiana mean+46% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

Coronary heart disease

BRFSS 2023
7.9%
+2% vs Louisiana mean+22% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

Diabetes (diagnosed)

BRFSS 2023
15.6%
-0% vs Louisiana mean+28% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

Frequent mental distress

BRFSS 2023
19.9%
+5% vs Louisiana mean+26% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

PLACES uses BRFSS-modeled small-area estimates, not individual records. Crude prevalence shown above is the local rate as published; comparators are age-adjusted vs the Louisiana mean and the US mean — both population-weighted across counties — so geographies with different age structures stay apples-to-apples. Sources: CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023.

Sources.

All sources are federal public-domain datasets under 17 USC §105. We aggregate but do not relabel; the underlying observations remain attributable to EPA.