Answer the following in a new discussion post. You also need to respond to one classmate’s post.
1. Who/what are the main contributors to Birmingham's air pollution issues (include a definition of coke)?
2. Do you think there is enough being done to protect these neighborhoods or help with clean up? Explain.
3. What prevents these families from moving?
4. Do you think that Birmingham air pollution issues affect you? Why/how (or why not)?
The pollution has been occurring for over 100 years from the steel industry and related groups. There are two types of pollution occurring, legacy soil contamination and air pollution. Many of these groups, such as Walter Coke Energy for example, knew there were contaminants from their facilities reaching into surrounding communities but chose to do nothing about it.
I don’t think enough is being done for these communities. Between the EPA doing the bare minimum, only requiring self-reporting for companies that are giving off most of the pollution, studies being done to look into the pollution being put to a halt, and more, it seems like very little is actually being done to help these communities. Additionally, the Jefferson County Department of Health has the ability to help lessen this pollution by creating regulations, but they have not done this.
The plants in the area that are giving off pollutants make the value of their homes constantly go down, so many people are already having to take out loans to pay for their homes, but they don’t have a high enough value for them to be able to sell their homes. As said by a community member in the video, “there is no value in this area.”
I have no doubt the air pollution affects me and other students at BSC. We live not far from College Hills and the plants that surround it. When driving around Birmingham you can constantly see different plants in the area. This affects the overall air quality in the city, and the areas surrounding BSC especially. Additionally, outside of affecting me, I have distant family that lives in the Tarrant area, or did at one point in their life, and they have had multiple health problems due to this that I have been told about my whole life.
Great thoughts on how even BSC students could be affected due to our closeness to College Hills. I have never even given a second thought to how close we are to one of the biggest plants in our area. This is very concerning. Maybe BSC could get involved in raising awareness for students and the surrounding comminity!