My Approach to Handling the COVID-19 Crisis
It has been a little over a month since I worked in the Gasp office. Like many of you, I am yearning to know when we will resume being in one another’s physical presence. Meanwhile, the Gasp staff is adjusting because our work continues. If you haven’t already, check...
Report: Exposure to Air Pollution May Make COVID-19 Deadlier
A new study suggests that people diagnosed with COVID-19 who are exposed to high levels of particle pollution, or PM 2.5, are more likely to die from the disease. A team of researchers at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health collected data from...
An Overview of Remote Atmospheric Monitoring
By Ben Moose, Gasp Intern What is remote atmospheric monitoring? Remote atmospheric monitoring, when used for air quality monitoring purposes, is the use of satellites and satellite instruments to determine the concentration of pollutants and other air quality...
Citizen Science in the Face of Coronavirus
Citizen Science (aka, Community Science) Citizen science is when the general public is engaged in the scientific process, whether testing hypotheses, collecting data, or seeking government action. These efforts can raise awareness of an issue and empower communities...
Meet Brodie Zalanka, Spring Gasp Intern
What is your major at UAB/BSC and why did you choose it? I have a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and am pursuing my Masters in Public Health with a concentration in environmental and occupational health. What do you hope to do after you graduate? I am...
Meet Mimi Tran, Spring Intern for Gasp
What is your major at UAB/BSC and why did you choose it? I’m a freshman Urban Environmental Studies major at Birmingham Southern College. As a kid, my favorite part of family vacations was (and still is!) visiting a city’s botanical gardens, local farmers markets, or...
COVID-19: Air pollution reductions?
I think many of us are looking for a silver lining right now; many are looking for a calm amidst the storm (side note, this video from a doctor working with only COVID-19 patients in New York City is the best thing I have seen since this started. It’s logical,...
Meet Matthew Odendahl, Spring Intern for Gasp
Matthew is serving as Gasp's Communications and Marketing Spring Intern What is your major at UAB/BSC and why did you choose it? I am pursuing a bachelor of science in public health, with a concentration in environmental health and a studio art minor. I chose this...
COVID-19: How I’m Keeping Myself Sane and Others Safe
Staff Attorney Haley Lewis shares what has helped her get through the past two weeks in the hopes they may help you too.
Meet Ben Moose, Spring Intern for Gasp
Where do you go to high school? I go to high school at JCIB (Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School). What do you hope to do after you graduate? I hope to pursue a career in atmospheric sciences, specifically meteorology. I am also interested in...
Meet Allie Guadarrama, Spring Intern for Gasp
Allie is serving as Gasp's Climate Change Intern. Where do you go to high school?/What do you hope to do after you graduate? Currently I am a Junior at Vestavia Hills High School. After High School I would like to move to the West, either California or Washington, and...
Victory: Alabama Power Agrees Not to Disconnect Service, Charge Late Fees During COVID-19
Energy Alabama and Gasp Appreciate Alabama Power’s Belabored Decision Not to Disconnect Service or Charge Late Fees During COVID-19 Crisis BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 19, 2020) — On Friday, March 13, Governor Kay Ivey declared a State of Emergency as the COVID-19 pandemic...
Meet Rose Albert, Spring Intern for Gasp
Rose is serving as Gasp's Community Science Intern What is your major at UAB and why did you choose it? I chose to major in chemistry at UAB because I appreciate its explanations for the physical world. A foundational understanding of chemistry is applicable to other...
Thanks to our Volunteers
Seven days ago was a busy day. Brodie (intern) and I worked the Gasp table at UAB's Community Matching Event (giving students an opportunity to meet local non-profits). I left Brodie to handle the table and rushed back to our office to meet with a new volunteer, who...
13 Organizations Call for Alabama PSC to Halt Disconnections, Late Fees
Today, 13 organizations formally requested the Alabama Public Service Commission issue an emergency order to halt utility shutoffs and late fees for all customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, Alabama Power issued a statement that it "had no plans" to cut...
Genes, Evolution, and Air Pollution
I believe that the health of each and every one of us is harmed by air pollution. I base this belief on studies that show there is no safe level of pollutants and that adverse health effects are occurring at levels much lower than previously thought. It is hard,...
Protect the First Amendment, Oppose HB36 & SB45
Legal and Policy Updates: February 26, 2020
Air Permits Below are air permits up for public comment across the state. If you are interested in learning more, or getting involved, please email me at [email protected] or call me at 205-701-4272. County* Facility Type of permit Date posted** Lee Creekwood...
Legal and Policy Updates: February 14, 2020
Air Permits Below are air permits up for public comment across the state. If you are interested in learning more, or getting involved, please email me at [email protected] or call me at 205-701-4272. County* Facility Type of permit Date posted** Colbert Technocon...
WATCH: ABC 33/40 Reports on Gasp Air Sampling Results
For years, residents have been complaining about air pollution coming from the Bluestone Coke plant in North Birmingham. (Prior to being named Bluestone Coke, it was called ERP Compliant Coke, and before that it was Walter Coke.) The plant heats coal at extremely high...
Legal and Policy Updates: February 7, 2020
Air Permits Below are air permits up for public comment across the state. If you are interested in learning more, or getting involved, please email me at [email protected] or call me at 205-701-4272. County* Facility Type of permit Date posted** Jefferson Big Sky...
Legal and Policy Updates: January 31, 2020
Here are updates about air permits, regulations, state and local policy, and federal legislation that relate to our work!
The Role of Health Departments in Promoting Environmental Justice
Background If you’ve read anything else on this website, you probably already know about the environmental justice challenges facing Birmingham. Air pollution from industries and factories disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income neighborhoods,...
On March 19, 1970, Dr. Marshall Brewer Gave this Stirring Speech
The modern iteration of GASP celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year. We are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of our namesake organization, the Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution, and the signing of the federal Clean Air Act this year. As such, we...
GASP Seeks Five Volunteer Interns for Spring Semester
We’re looking to fill five unpaid internship positions for the 2020 spring semester. The deadline to apply is January 17, 2020.
Scientific Advisory Board Pushes Back on Trump’s EPA Rollbacks
The air we breathe needs to be cleaned up, not allowed to get dirtier.
Assessing Causality of Particulate Matter Pollution on Health
The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) makes recommendations to the EPA administrator regarding National Ambient Air Quality Standards for criteria air pollutants, including particulate matter. This process...
EPA Needs to Base Its Decisions on Science
Marion Fintel retired from Talladega College as an associate professor of biology in July of 2019. During her career, she taught anatomy and physiology, as well as other biology courses, to college students for close to thirty years. Dr. Fintel earned her doctorate...
Alabama PSC to Hold Hearing on Solar Fee
On Thursday, November 21, the Alabama Public Service Commission will hold a hearing requested by Gasp, represented by SELC, and private plaintiffs, represented by Ragsdale, LLC, about Alabama Power’s unnecessary and discriminatory monthly fee on solar power customers...
Why I Fight for Clean Air & How You Can Help
As a boy, I dreaded the Science Fair toward the end of each school year. It wasn’t so much that I didn’t like science — I loved it then as I still do today. It was the competition that gave me anxiety. It wasn’t until I was in Mrs. Weeks 5th Grade class that I finally...