A STOP ON FACTORY ROW DIMINISHES LIFESPAN OF RESIDENTS

Theme: Unsafety

This picture represents the unsafe theme for residents near Rubbertown in the West End of Louisville because it captures the fact that many factories like this one, emit air pollutants that diminish the life expectancy by 15.9 years for residents compared to other areas in the city. Residents surrounding  the Chickasaw and Shawnee parks (near Rubbertown and a mostly minority and poor population) are in immediate danger for major long-term health concerns such as increased hospital admissions, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, COPD, respiratory disease and cancer as a result of chronic and acute exposure to the air pollutants. (2014, Louisville Health Equity Report). The companies along Rubbertown produce rubber, plastics, coatings, and other chemical products used to make cars, paint, appliances, packaging, and even space shuttle fuel. If a family wanted to go to the park to exercise while working toward a healthier lifestyle, they are still put at risk because of the hazardous air conditions these factories impose upon those outside, an inescapable thick scent of hard-boiled eggs that have matured in 100 degree heat. The solution for these residents could include an equitable indoor exercise facility, a program to support filtering clean air into homes as well as a change in regulations for the daily operation of the area factories to emit less hazardous chemicals and/or a healthier method of producing their products/services. It would also be unethical to build any more factories of this nature in the West End of Louisville, KY.