By Ashley Peoples | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

Contributor: Amanda Benko | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

With the discussion of pollution in New York City, air quality is a focus of this issue that we should all be concerned about. According to the CDC, climate change affects the health of humans by an increase in “ground-level ozone and particulate matter air pollution” (CDC, 2020). This means that when there is a change in the ground level our health is impacted. Smog is something that most of us are familiar with, and it is related to asthma, as well as stroke, lung cancer, and heart disease (WHO, 2018).

According to the World Health Organization, some ways to avoid breathing polluted air include limit walking outside during peak traffic time (such as rush hour), if you are walking with a small child, lift them up (if able) above the level of exhaust. Other tips include limit spending time in high traffic areas when possible, limit use of vehicle during “air quality alert” days, and don’t burn waste or trash.

There are many clean air interventions that you can support. Globally, the WHO has initiated a BreatheLife campaign. This aims to reduce air pollution in countries, regions and cities, and as of 2018 the reach of this program was approximately 97 million. In the Birmingham area, there is a group called GASP (Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution), this group is laser focused on improving air quality in our city. Before 1970, when the Clean Air Act was passed, truckers referred to Birmingham, AL as “Smoke City”. GASP and other non-profits locally and globally can use your support (Byiton, 2018).

If you want to know more about the air quality history of Birmingham, check out this article by BHAM NOW: https://bhamnow.com/2017/08/17/smoke-city-birmingham/

To show support for GASP: https://gaspgroup.org/our-story/

References:

Byington, P. (2018). “Smoke City” – Birmingham air pollution our past and future. BHAM NOW. https://bhamnow.com/2017/08/17/smoke-city-birmingham/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020b, December 21). Air Pollution. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/air_pollution.htm

The gasp story: Our mission, vision, values & more. GASP. (n.d.). https://gaspgroup.org/our-story/

World Health Organization. (2018, October 29). How air pollution is destroying our health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/how-air-pollution-is-destroying-our-health