LAPLACE — “Only 0.2 will do” was the motto reiterated Wednesday by Concerned Citizens of St. John the Baptist Parish members and attorneys presenting evidence of the threats posed by Denka Performance Elastomer’s operations in LaPlace.

The number refers to the max amount of micrograms per cubic meter of chloroprene deemed safe for emission, as outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 National Air Toxics Assessment, released in 2015.

Classified as a likely carcinogen, chloroprene exposure has been linked to liver, lung, kidney and colon cancer and leukemia in animal testing, according to John J. Cummings III, who is spearheading a lawsuit against Denka Performance Elastomer.

With levels of chloroprene at Fifth Ward Elementary spiking at 32.4 ug/m3 in February — 162 times the maximum “safe” level and 16,200 times the preferred standard of 0.02 ug/m3 — concerns were raised over the safety of students attending the school.

Air monitoring at East St. John High has seen similar results, according to attorney Wilma Subra, recording a high of 30.3 ug/m3 and a low of 0.392 ug/m3 in January.

St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools and Concerned Citizens of St. John the Baptist Parish partnered to shine light on evidence Wednesday to a crowd of approximately 50 with an intent to inform the community of risks posed by chloroprene exposure.

Representatives of DPE were not invited to respond to concerns at the meetings, according to School Board President Ali Burl III. He said the company declined to attend a meeting in 2017 while undergoing litigation.

Denka Performance Elastomer Plant Manager Jorge Lavastida said the company continues to operate within permits written by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and emits well below its allowed annual limits.

Upon learning of concerns regarding chloroprene emissions in late 2015, DPE immediately began meeting with the EPA and LDEQ to better understand the science behind claims of adverse health effects, according to Lavastida.

Since early 2017, DPE has spent more than $30 million in modifying operations and installing equipment. Lavastida said air-monitoring efforts within the facility have shown significant reductions, and February showed the lowest average concentration of chloroprene since monitoring began in August 2016.

“The company has significantly reduced its emissions over the last year in response to community concerns about the chemical chloroprene created by a contested National Air Toxics Assessment report published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency less than a month after (Denka) purchased the facility in late 2015,” Lavastida said.

“Though (Denka) believes its operations do not threaten the local community, company officials quickly took action, just weeks after purchasing the plant, to address community concerns created by the NATA report and help create a mutually beneficial solution for local residents.”

He said the company continues to dispute the report and plans to provide additional scientific information supporting its claim to the EPA within coming months.

Attorney Cayce C. Peterson said (Denka) released a notice Jan. 11, stating reduction efforts had been completed as per an early 2017 agreement, which conflicted with a later notice stating the project was not complete.

Air monitoring at Fifth Ward and East St. John does not reveal an adequate reduction, Peterson said.

“The truth is, 0.2 is a compromise,” Peterson said. “The goal is 0.02, which would add a 1 in a million chance of cancer. With 0.2, the odds are 1 in 10,000. When you have 100 times that amount, you’re looking at hundreds of additional people developing cancer.”

Cummings said his team of attorneys traveled to Dallas on Thursday to meet with the EPA, adding the Department of Justice is looking at pinning criminal violations on Denka.

During this week’s meeting, some community members signed up to have themselves and their children urine tested for chloroprene metabolites.

In response to a question over the safety of school children, Burl said moving Fifth Ward Elementary to temporary portables on another campus is an option worth considering.

School Board Vice President Patrick Sanders said elevated levels impact the entire Parish, and a proactive approach is needed to lower or, ideally, eliminate chloroprene exposure.

Concerned Citizens of St. John the Baptist Parish will host another community meeting at 6 p.m. April 17 at Tchoupitoulas Chapel in Reserve.