In the midst of World War II, America faced a crisis that is often overlooked: a lack of rubber and other essential materials needed for the war effort. In 1942, the federal government recognized this and decided to take action. The newly formed U.S. Office of War Production contracted National Carbide to construct a calcium carbide and acetylene gas plant (now Carbide Industries). They also negotiated with the B.F. Goodrich Corporation to build an adjacent plant to make chemical intermediaries. A third company, duPont de Nemours & Co., was contracted in 1941 to build a Neoprene synthetic rubber facility (on the site that is now split between DuPont and Chemours). A short time later in 1945, five tire companies known as National Synthetic Rubber formed a plant to make styrene-butadiene rubber for tires needed in the war. This plant became known as American Synthetic Rubber Co.
But where exactly did they choose to build all this industry? The location, which later became known as “Rubbertown,” was formerly the heart and soul of a West End community including residential areas, small scale commercial zoning, schools, and anything else the people of west Louisville needed to call it home. While the U.S. now produced more than enough supplies to fulfill the need for war resources, this formerly peaceful riverside community was quickly turned into a hotspot of industrial production and subsequently, air pollution.
After decades of these factories calling west Louisville home, in the early 2000s, Rubbertown was named one of the most polluted neighborhoods in the United States. The area was known for decades to have incredibly high rates of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dangerous pollutant particles which affect many aspects of human life. According to a study conducted by the University of Louisville in 2004, the air quality in Rubbertown was worse than in any other neighborhood in the city. The study found that the area also had high levels of toxic chemicals, including benzene, butadiene, and 1,3-butadiene, which are known to cause cancer and respiratory problems, among other health issues.
Rubbertown also faced contamination of its water resources as a result of pollutants being discharged into the Ohio River, a vital source of drinking water for the region. The persistence of these chemicals in the soil only heightened apprehension, with certain substances from the manufacturing process lingering in the environment for extensive periods. Consequently, the community experienced elevated rates of cancer and other illnesses as a result of this toxic exposure. As it became evident that the pollution levels in Rubbertown were the root cause of these health issues, it became a pressing public health concern.
The term “Environmental Injustice,” coined in the 1980s environmental policy movement, can be succinctly defined as “the disproportionate exposure of communities of color and the poor to pollution, and its concomitant effects on health and environment, as well as the unequal environmental protection and environmental quality provided through laws, regulations, governmental programs, enforcement, and policies.” Determining the exact number of people affected by environmental injustice is complex, dependent on factors such as regional geography, the environmental issues in question, and the demographic of those who are affected. Nevertheless, a study by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has reported that it estimates that millions of people worldwide suffer the consequences of environmental injustice, and the victims are disproportionately the most vulnerable and marginalized populations. To no surprise, Rubbertown proves no different.
Photo By Louisville.gov
The maps above show side by side comparisons with plants that have Title V permits through the Air Pollution Control District of Louisville (ACPD), which are recognized to potentially be major sources of pollution and emissions – next to the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey demographics of Black or African American population (left), and median income (right).
These maps show evidently that disproportionate amounts of these environment polluting factories are located in areas with either a large black population or a large proportion of people with low socioeconomic statuses. You see little to none of these industrial zones in east Louisville neighborhoods, which have historically been white and wealthy. It would be ill-informed to assert that the disproportionate exposure to health-threatening environmental pollution in historically black or low-income areas is a mere coincidence; history clearly demonstrates otherwise, particularly in the case of Louisville. It is the work of structural racism.
The practice of redlining, or racial zoning, was widespread in many American cities during the early 20th century. Louisville was no exception. In 1914, Louisville became the first city in the United States to pass a comprehensive zoning ordinance. This ordinance allowed the city to regulate land use and prevent certain types of development in certain areas. However, the ordinance also included a provision that allowed the city to designate certain areas for use by specific races. The first racial zoning law in Louisville was passed in 1917. The law created two distinct zones in the city: a “white” zone and a “colored” zone. The law prohibited African Americans from moving into the “white” zone and white people from moving into the “colored” zone. This was done to deliberately segregate the city and force Black people to live in certain areas. But it was done under the ruse of protecting property values and encouraging new development in the greater louisville area. The main areas which were defined in the 1917 zoning law as “colored” zones, happen to be the areas of West Louisville, including Rubbertown.
While still not widely known, it is becoming more apparent that systemic racial motives resulted in low income and black populations experiencing the life altering pollution that Rubbertown rained down upon its inhabitants. In recent times, though, efforts have been taken to reduce the impacts of these industrial areas and better the lives of residents. Many organizations, such as Rubbertown Emergency ACTion (REACT), formed in response to the environmental and health concerns of the Rubbertown community. REACT works to advocate for policies that better protect the health and well-being of residents and push for full disclosure of and easy access to information concerning the impact of Rubbertown on residents living nearby.
Similarly a group of UofL students, professors and community leaders – known as Air Justice – have been working to improve air quality and advocate for change in the rubber town area. Dr. Megan Poole is a professor of scientific and technical writing at UofL and plays a large role in this organization. “We want to hear from as many residents as possible about their experiences with air pollution because we believe story is the most powerful tool to push back against an issue,” Poole says. Her organization believes that there are deliberate actions by these companies to produce what she terms “scientific jargon” in an effort to throw off how much the residents actually know about the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the soil they walk on.
But even though organizations like these are working tirelessly to make an impact on Rubbertown and environmental injustice as a whole, it is far from an easy feat. The reality is, these companies profit from polluting the environment. Real solutions to these issues are not cheap nor easy. It takes time, effort, and the will power to fight in order to enact change.
Since 2017, the US Environmental Protection Agency has been conducting a study with large advanced air pollution detecting machines known as Auto GCs located throughout the area. While still far from perfect, studies show Rubbertown has seen a decrease in pollution in recent years. An industry permitting manager Matt King claimed that in the 2006 study, pollutant chemicals posed a risk of about 83 in a million. Today, APCD says that risk is about 11 in a million for those same chemicals. While this is a vast improvement, the risk is not yet eliminated. If the community becomes complacent with the change they have seen, things may stop improving.
With leaders and advocates continually pushing for even stronger environmental regulations and increased transparency from the industrial facilities in the neighborhood, we are sure to see more change on the horizon. The EPA is still conducting their studies and regularly reporting back, and many organizations are trying to do all they can to make a difference. Yet public health agencies are still linking cancers and illnesses to the pollutants of the Rubbertown industrial sites. Even though the government carelessly turned Rubbertown into an ecological disaster, there are still actions we can take to make a difference. It needs more awareness, so hop on social media and advocate for the change you want to see. Volunteers are always in shortage, join or donate to grassroot organizations such as REACT or Air Justice. They are the ones going the extra mile to make a difference.
Where extreme environmental injustice occurs, there is something deeply problematic to be addressed. Each of us can and should feel compelled to aid in this effort when able. Being here in Louisville for college, I come from a place of privilege when I can go back to my residence without worry about what risks the environment is perpetuating for me. I can sit here and write about the situation, but it would be pointless if not intended to spark conversation and initiate change. Rubbertown was once a peaceful community. War production alongside systemic racist policies deemed it less important and thus showed no mercy in polluting it. There are organizations and people working tirelessly to make a difference, we should too. We can say we care about this issue, but if we don’t take action – do we? Rubbertown has a future in store, it is simply up to us how it plays out.
Louisville Political Review 
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