Air & Health

Rubbertown Air Toxics and Health Assessment (RATHA)

The Rubbertown Air Toxics and Health Action is a three-year project (2024-2027) with a goal of understanding and mitigating the impacts of air pollution in West Louisville, focusing on the historically industrialized Rubbertown area. This project brings together key local agencies and institutions to conduct rigorous air quality monitoring, develop innovative health assessment tools, and engage deeply with the community to improve public health and environmental conditions.

Odor Reporting

This research explores the relationship between odors and public health in Louisville, Kentucky using publicly available and community-generated data from the Smell MyCity app. Thousands of smell reports from 2018-2023 have been analyzed and hotspots have been identified for chemical, sewer, and industrial odors across Louisville. By comparing health outcomes such as asthma, heart disease, and respiratory issues in odor hotspots to other areas in Jefferson County, this study highlights health disparities in areas with high pollution. The project underscores the power of participatory science, enabling residents to contribute vital data to inform environmental justice efforts. Ultimately, this research aims to improve air quality and public health in underserved communities by promoting awareness and data-driven advocacy. This work was presented at the 7th Annual Environmental Justice Conference hosted by the NAACP Louisville Chapter and the West Jefferson County Community Task Force in September 2023, and a publication has been submitted to the American Journal of Public Health in November 2024.

Green Heart Louisville Project

Green Heart is a first-of-its-kind longitudinal health study that investigates the relationship between air pollution, heart health, and residential greenness. Green Heart examines how roadway air pollution moves throughout neighborhoods and how this exposure impacts the health and wellbeing of nearby residents. The Center supports community engagement efforts, manages auxiliary studies, and conducts assessment of pollution exposure through wastewater for the Green Heart Project. 

Superfund Research Center

The Superfund Research Center studies how chemical exposures increase risk for developing heart disease, diabetes, and liver disease in populations living near toxic waste disposal sites. CHAWS participates in Superfund’s Community Engagement Core (CEC), working together with community members, stakeholders, policymakers, and our research team to talk about important issues related to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their effects on health.

The CEC hosts Superfund’s Community Advisory Board and Community Knowledge Exchange Sessions to discuss topics that matter to residents. The CEC has created easy-to-understand summaries of environmental health research, supported monitoring of VOCs in wastewater, participated in the redevelopment process for the Lee’s Lane Superfund Site, and developed a website for the Valley of the Drums Superfund Site.

Healthy Plants Collection

CHAWS has partnered with Nanz & Kraft florists to create the Healthy Plants Collection. Indoor plants can significantly enhance the health of our living and working spaces in several ways. They can remove toxins from the air by trapping it on leaf surfaces. The presence of greenness has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and encourage healing, leading to greater focus and productivity. Additionally, plants add aesthetic appeal, creating a more inviting atmosphere that supports overall wellbeing. Plants in the Nanz & Kraft Healthy Plants Collection not only enhance the beauty of your home, office, or hospital room but also play a crucial role in improving mental wellbeing and air quality.

Water & Health

Public Health & Pollution Exposure Monitoring

The Center for Healthy Air, Water and Soil is pioneering the use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to monitor environmental health risks across Louisville and Kentucky. Our innovative research tracks community health by analyzing wastewater for heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), providing vital insights into the presence of hazardous pollutants that can threaten public wellbeing. Currently, we monitor five key sites weekly to identify disease trends and assess exposure to a wide range of pathogens and environmental contaminants. Our findings help inform local public health strategies and have gained national recognition through publications in major journals and collaborations with the CDC National Wastewater Surveillance program. By advancing our monitoring capabilities, we aim to enhance community health and safety in an ever-changing environment.

Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) Collaboration

The Malawi-based wastewater surveillance project, led by Dr. Rochelle Holm, is making significant strides in public health by conducting weekly monitoring at six sites in Southern Malawi. Now in its second year, this initiative has expanded its scope to include genomic analysis and has formed a partnership with SOS International to secure surplus medical supplies that align with our pathogen detection research. In addition, Dr. Holm is advising the UN Refugee Agency on establishing wastewater surveillance in the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi, further enhancing our efforts to address enteric diseases. The project's findings continue to contribute to national priorities and have been featured in many peer-reviewed journals, underscoring our commitment to improving health outcomes in Malawi.

Establishing Wastewater Public Health Surveillance in Malawi
CHAWS has set up multi-pathogen community wastewater surveillance in Malawi and is working to create and share blueprints that will help other low-resource communities speed public health response. Current Wastewater and Environmental Sampling (WES) research pathogens include: Influenza A, Influenza B, Measles, Salmonella Typhi, Respiratory syncytial virus, SARS-CoV-2, Vibrio cholerae, and Yellow fever.

Collaboration with Malawi University of Science and Technology
UofL has partnered with the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) to set up multi-pathogen baseline testing. Through this partnership, we collect weekly wastewater surveillance at five sites in Southern Malawi.
Visit Malawi University of Science and Technology.

Girls’ Science Day
We have held two Girls’ Science Days serving more than 500 girls in total. A major focus of the program was Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) jobs under the wastewater, sanitation, and virus themes. Typically, STEM exposure is very limited for these girls and mostly consists of rote memorization for exams. For many of the girls, this would be the first program with hands-on demonstrations, tours, and motivational speeches that they’ve ever experienced and the first female scientists they’ve ever met. We have received so much positive feedback from this program, from students and their teachers alike, as well as heartfelt requests to continue hosting an annual Girls’ Science Day program.

Supporting the UN Refugee Agency
Since November 2023, we have served as a technical advisor visit to the Dzaleka refugee camp to support the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on the establishment of wastewater surveillance. The camp, which is terribly overcrowded, is home to 50,000 refugees, mostly from other African countries experiencing war or severe unrest. Healthcare access is limited. The plan is to use wastewater-based epidemiology as an early warning system to detect disease spread. We are excited the UNCHR has asked to learn from the University of Louisville based on our past work at Southern Malawi sampling sites. It is hard and messy work to make healthier communities, and it is an honor to be recognized for our scientific knowledge and expertise.

SOS International Partnership
We have established a partnership with SOS International, based in Louisville, Kentucky, to match surplus medical supplies to public health needs at the sites partnering with our wastewater pathogen detection research.

Markers of Toxic Exposure

CHAWS wastewater focus includes the evaluation of metals and air pollution to provide insights into public health concerns associated with exposures. Wastewater analysis allows for the quantification of lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic in specific areas. Heavy metals can enter wastewater from various sources including industrial releases, urban runoff, and infrastructure corrosion. These substances are known to pose significant health risks, including neurological disorders, organ damage, developmental issues, and cancer. VOC pollution originates from various sources such as automobile exhaust, industrial activities, wildfires, tobacco smoke, and even household products and can pose significant health risks. We have developed a non-targeted, high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopic (LC-MS) platform to profile metabolites of VOC exposure.

Ohio River Way

CHAWS partners with the Ohio River Way to promote restoration, recreation, and regional development in the Ohio River Basin as well as advocate for federal funding to restore the basin’s ecology and improve community health. CHAWS supports the Ohio River Basin Restoration Plan, led by the National Wildlife Federation, working with the Ohio River Basin Alliance and federal legislators like Rep. Morgan McGarvey. They also back the Kentucky Ohio River Regional Recreation Authority (KORRRA), created through HB 712, to enhance outdoor recreation infrastructure across 25 Kentucky counties. Additionally, CHAWS and the Ohio River Way collaborate with the National Park Service to expand recreational access along a 300-mile stretch of the Ohio River, improving public access points and promoting the river as a resource for tourism and economic development. These efforts seek to restore the river basin while enhancing quality of life for its communities.

Photograph courtesy of Joe Wolek.

Ohio River Basin Restoration Plan
Led by the National Wildlife Federation, Ohio River Way continues to serve as a key stakeholder in the development of the Ohio River Basin Restoration Plan, along with dozens of regional partners that constitute the Ohio River Basin Alliance. Together, we are working with federal legislators, including Ohio River Basin Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Morgan McGarvey, to pursue a goal of bringing significant federal funding to restore the ecology of the Ohio River basin, an area unifying nearly 30 million people across parts of 14 states.

Kentucky Ohio River Regional Recreation Authority (KORRRA)
In partnership with bill sponsor Rep. Ken Fleming, Ohio River Way has led advocacy for the passage of HB 712, establishing the Kentucky Ohio River Regional Recreation Authority. The new Authority will have two primary benefits: 1) it will serve as a vehicle to carry funding from future state appropriations and eligible grants, and 2) it will provide a coordinated and comprehensive approach to infrastructure aimed at increasing outdoor recreation access and improving quality of life along the Ohio River corridor. All 25 Kentucky counties bounding the Ohio River will be eligible to join the new Authority. Ohio River Way will continue to work with its partners to build awareness and support for the Authority across eligible counties.

National Water Trail Designation
In partnership with the National Park Service, Ohio River Way is working to bring increased recreation access to paddlers and boaters along an approximately 300 mile stretch of the Ohio River. To date, they have documented and mapped all public access points and are currently pursuing new signs and access improvements to bring additional awareness and safety to the Ohio River, both as a recreation resource and an amenity and asset for river communities to pursue tourism, economic development, and quality of life initiatives.

Cities & Health

Universal Basic Neighborhood

The Universal Basic Neighborhood (UBN) Project aims to create healthier, more equitable communities by embedding health-promoting elements into public spaces, policies, and local infrastructure. Using a comprehensive framework of 36 indicators, the project assesses environmental, social, transportation, and housing factors that influence community wellbeing. By focusing on place-based strategies, UBN seeks to ensure that all neighborhoods, regardless of income or demographics, are designed to support health and thriving. This approach moves away from comparing affluent, predominantly white areas to other neighborhoods, instead establishing universal health standards for all communities.

Cultural Pass Loneliness Evaluation

The Cultural Pass program in Louisville provides free access to arts and cultural events for families, promoting social connection, learning, and wellbeing. The University of Louisville conducts surveys to assess feelings of loneliness in senior citizens before and after a summer of utilizing the Cultural Pass, to determine if participation can improve mental wellbeing. By breaking down barriers to access, the Cultural Pass creates opportunities for everyone in Greater Louisville to enjoy and benefit from the city's rich cultural offerings, contributing to stronger communities and improved mental health for participants.

Alley Revitalization and Wellbeing

It is crucial to create residential environments that support mental health, safety, and active lifestyles, especially amid historically low levels of mental wellbeing. Alleys, a neglected feature in many neighborhoods, often become sites for illegal dumping, invasive weeds, and unsafe vehicle speeds. Beargrass Thunder, a project partner, conducted placemaking activities, including trash cleanup and greening, in a one-block alley in Louisville, Kentucky. Pre- and post-surveys showed promising results: mental distress scores improved from 2.02 to 3.9, and mental wellbeing scores increased from 3.46 to 2.9. Residents also reported spending more time in the alley, indicating increased community engagement.

Environmental Vulnerability Assessment

The Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI) was developed to assess and map environmental vulnerabilities across Louisville, Kentucky's 190 census tracts. It integrates multiple stressors, including pollution exposure, social vulnerability, climate change, and the built environment, into a composite score to highlight health disparities. The findings emphasize the need for neighborhood-level assessments and targeted interventions, revealing significant vulnerability clusters in the western parts of the city. This place-based framework aims to inform public health strategies and empower communities to advocate for equitable, healthy urban environments.

Brent Spence Bridge Environmental Assessment

This project focuses on improving environmental conditions in urban areas through targeted planting strategies. The team will begin by reviewing existing data to assess pollution levels and best practices for reducing air, noise, and heat pollution. Using GIS analysis, they will identify plantable areas, considering potential barriers like utility lines. An arborist will create a list of tree species best suited to each site, ranked by their environmental benefits, such as reducing pollution and stormwater runoff. The project will also develop optimized planting layouts, considering both environmental impact and community preferences. A final report will summarize findings, species recommendations, and expected environmental benefits.

Participatory Science

What is Participatory Science?

Participatory science is when ordinary people collaborate with scientists and contribute to scientific research by participating in projects that aim to increase our knowledge about the world. Citizen scientists provide data about their everyday experiences so we can begin to understand the connections between our health, the environment, and the choices we make at an individual and community level. Read about some of our local projects involving citizen scientists.

Junior Achievement's Health Ambassadors

The Center for Healthy Air, Water and Soil and Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana have partnered to create a Community Health Researcher job within JA's Sam Swope BizTown. Just like the Envirome Institute's team of researchers at the University of Louisville, this Community Health Researcher observed residents of BizTown, conducted research through a survey about health, and presented their research findings. When JCPS students attended Junior Achievement's BizTown, they learned about the connections between the environment and health from their Community Health Researcher. They could also choose to learn about the Circle of Harmony and Health and how it can be used as a framework to help people understand and reflect on their health. 

Kentuckiana Meeting for Advancing Participatory Sciences

The Kentuckiana Meeting for Advancing Participatory Sciences integrated Health, Environment, and Community Resilience convened leaders and practitioners from diverse sectors to explore the synergies between climate change, health, outdoor recreation, and community resilience. Hosted by the Center for Healthy Air, Water and Soil, with support from the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences, the event provided a platform for showcasing excellence, fostering collaboration, and envisioning new partnerships in participatory sciences. Speakers, including Dr. Chris Lorentz from Thomas More University Biology Field Station and Dr. Luz Huntington-Moskos from the University of Louisville, discussed topics ranging from environmental justice concerns to community engagement in addressing environmental health challenges. The day culminated in facilitated discussions promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, sustainable community development, and creating a sense of community among participatory science practitioners in the region. Through these discussions, participants worked towards developing actionable strategies to address common challenges and foster a new vision of health.

Become a Member of the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences (AAPS)
Help build and sustain projects engaged in community science, citizen science, community-based monitoring, volunteer research, and more.
Join AAPS!

Nanz & Kraft Florists Partnership

Nanz & Kraft Florists has partnered with the Center for Healthy Air, Water and Soil to offer the Healthy Plants Collection. The Healthy Plants Collection will bring greenness to your indoor environment and can help improve mental wellbeing and air quality in your indoor environments.

Most people spend most of their time indoors in homes, offices, and hospitals where pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and ammonia are common. Furniture, building materials, office equipment, and everyday activities like driving, cleaning, and cooking give off these pollutants which can cause distraction, headache, dizziness, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Plants in the Healthy Plant Collection can trap airborne toxins on their leaf surface, so you won’t breathe them in.

Healthy Plants Collection
Nanz & Kraft Florists donates $10 from each purchase within the collection to help fund scientific research to improve health in Louisville.
Browse the Healthy Plants Collection!

Odor Reporting with Smell MyCity

Smell MyCity is a way for Louisville residents to report odors to Louisville Metro’s Air Pollution Control District. Thousands of smell reports from 2018-2023 have been analyzed to investigate associations between reports and health outcomes and to share findings. This work was presented at the 7th Annual Environmental Justice Conference hosted by the NAACP Louisville Chapter and the West Jefferson County Community Task Force in September 2023.

Do You Smell Something Out of the Ordinary?
Report unusual odors using the Smell MyCity app on your mobile device. The app enables residents to report unusual odors and collect data that can help track down potential sources of pollution in their neighborhood.
Download the App!

Assessing the Health of the Ohio River

In partnership with the Humana Foundation and Kentucky Waterways Alliance, CHAWS hosted a unique citizen science event aimed at assessing the health of the Ohio River. On Humana’s Day of Service, 120 participants gathered at the Falls of the Ohio recreational area for this event. Using line and tackle, participants helped collect fish samples to be analyzed for pollutants, including perfluorinated compounds (PFAS), that pose risks to both aquatic ecosystems and human health. The event provided an opportunity for community members to actively engage in environmental research while learning about the importance of water quality. The collected data provided valuable insights into pollution levels and informed public health and conservation efforts. 

Ohio River Sweeps
Join volunteers from six states in removing litter along the Ohio River and its tributaries during the Ohio River Sweep Season from March to October.
Find a Sweep Near You!

Humana's Day of Service Participatory Science Fishing Study

In August 2024, volunteers from Humana's Day of Service participated in a Participatory Science Fishing Study to collect fish samples from the Ohio River. The study analyzed contaminant levels in channel catfish and freshwater drum, focusing on heavy metals, PCBs, and PFAS chemicals. Results showed that most contaminants were below safety limits, though freshwater drum exhibited elevated PFOS levels above the EPA threshold. To learn more, please read the press release, one-page results summary, or review the detailed findings in the long-form report.