Neoprene Is Nasty

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Of course, you know your wetsuit is made of neoprene, but do you know how dangerous its manufacturing is to the environment and the people who live where it is made?

Neoprene, a brand name of polychloroprene, is a substitute for rubber. Entirely waterproof, it's ideal for wetsuits and other gear designed to insulate against wet and cold environments.

Although it is now made in Japan, Taiwan, and the developing nations of the Far East, the United States is still the largest producer and exporter of neoprene. Neoprene is made from petroleum, using a process that turns a component, chloroprene, into synthetic polychloroprene.

The only chloroprene plant operating in the U.S. is owned by Japanese chemical company Denka, which bought it from DuPont in 2015. It's situated in the predominantly low-income town of Reserve, Louisiana - in the heart of an area known as 'Cancer Alley'....

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