Advancing Environmental Justice through Chemical Education: Perspective from New Orleans’ Water and Air Quality Challenges

New Orleans, Louisiana, faces profound environmental vulnerabilities arising from the convergence of industrial pollution, urban runoff, and climate change–driven weather events. This paper examines systemic challenges affecting water and air quality in the region, with particular focus on low-income and marginalized communities disproportionately burdened by environmental degradation. Drawing on educational and community-based monitoring initiatives at Xavier University of Louisiana and Southeastern Louisiana University, we highlight the integration of student learning with real-time data collection of contaminants such as fecal coliforms, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina revealed significant fecal contamination in sediment layers, underscoring the enduring environmental consequences of extreme storm events. The crisis of environmental injustice is further exemplified by the industrial corridor known as Cancer Alley, where cancer risk from air pollution remains among the highest in the nation. We argue that chemical education can play a critical role in advancing environmental justice through student-centered monitoring, public engagement, and advocacy for cleaner and more equitable infrastructure.