Denka reassures local communities amid US ‘Covid town’ claims

LaPlace, Louisiana – Denka Performance Elastomer has issued a message to reassure local communities about the safety of its activities amid the Covid-19 crisis.

The company’s chloroprene rubber plant in LaPlace, formerly owned by DuPont, has been a target for activists over recent years due to concerns over levels of chloroprene in the local environment.

Moreover, US media reports have recently identified the small local Louisiana town of St. John the Baptist Parish as having the highest per capita Covid death rate in the US.

The statistic is being linked to health issues claimed to have been created by emissions from chemical plants and oil refineries along the Mississippi river between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. 

“During these uncertain times, we remain committed to what matters most - the safety of our employees and this community. We will not compromise safety,” Denka emphasised in a 9 April statement.

The company pointed out that after the virus was detected in the US, it implemented a crisis plan and took steps to ensure the safety of its activities. 

Synthetic rubber from the LaPlace plant is used to make medical gloves and respiratory equipment, as well as bandages, adhesives and other critical supplies, Denka also noted. 

“The safety and well-being of our employees and our community is now, and always has been, at the centre of what we do,” the company concluded.