Mossville, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Mossville is a small, predominantly African American
community on the outskirts of Lake Charles
in Calcasieu Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
. It is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
The community is featured in the 2002 documentary film Blue Vinyl
, which focuses on the health effects of nearby polyvinyl chloride
factories on community members. The film features footage of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade
collecting air samples to determine the toxicity of the community's air. Most of the homes that were located closest to the refinery have now been either moved to other locations or torn down.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
community on the outskirts of Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
in Calcasieu Parish
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish[p] is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lake Charles. As of 2010, the parish population was 192,768...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lake Charles metropolitan area
The Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the Acadiana region of southwest Louisiana that covers two parishes - Calcasieu and Cameron. According to a 2009 Census estimate, the MSA had a population of 194,138. It is also part of the larger Lake Charles-Jennings...
.
The community is featured in the 2002 documentary film Blue Vinyl
Blue Vinyl
Blue Vinyl is a 2002 documentary film directed by Daniel B. Gold and Judith Helfand. With a lighthearted tone, the film follows one woman's quest for an environmentally sound cladding for her parents' house in Merrick, Long Island, New York...
, which focuses on the health effects of nearby polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
factories on community members. The film features footage of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade
Louisiana Bucket Brigade
The Louisiana Bucket Brigade is a 501 nonprofit environmental health and justice organization based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 2000, the organization works with communities neighboring state oil refineries and chemical plants to address air quality issues.-Background:Bucket brigades...
collecting air samples to determine the toxicity of the community's air. Most of the homes that were located closest to the refinery have now been either moved to other locations or torn down.