Residents in the Rubbertown area are provided with municipal water that is drawn from the Ohio River, and thus should not be exposed to any contaminants present in groundwater. A public health assessment is an evaluation of pertinent environmental data, health outcome data, and community concerns. The petrochemical industrialization of the area began in 1918 when Standard Oil of Kentucky began construction of its Riverside Refinery. Many of these facilities have changed ownership over the years. In total, these industries report 11 million pounds per year of toxic air emissions, which accounts for one-third of all TRI releases in Kentucky.
Hazardous waste is also a concern.
Potential health hazards exist in the West Louisville area which are not related to the Rubbertown industries. These include radon, lead paint, mobile source air pollution, other industries not a part of Rubbertown, smoking, and indoor air issues. Air pollution emitted by cars is extensive in urban areas, and may contribute significantly to ambient levels of air toxics in West Louisville. According to the 1990 Census of Population and Housing, the demographic statistics for locations within 1 mile of the site indicate that 27,513 persons reside in 10,824 households.