UAB Superfund Research Center

Dr. Uday Vaidya is the recipient of a recent supplemental award to the UAB Superfund Center grant. This grant will allow him to develop biodegradable, reusable N95-equivalent masks that can protect from particles <2.5 microns in size. bit.ly/34MyvCT

The Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation has provided the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement with a $75,000 gift to address the impact of cancer and the COVID-19 pandemic on Alabama’s most rural communities. bit.ly/3oLQsJE

The innovative, problem-based, solution-oriented UAB SRP is providing a deeper understanding of the health of the environment and directly impacting the lung health of the residents of Birmingham, Alabama.

The environmental projects include the development and use of an optical "nose" to measure toxicants in the field. Remediation via nano-micro hybrid fibrous material for contaminant removal is being studied.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed that the 35th Avenue Superfund site, located in downtown Birmingham, be placed on the National Priorities List. The EPA-identified contaminants of potential concern in this area include cadmium, arsenic, & manganese.

The environmental projects include the development and use of an optical "nose" to measure toxicants in the field. Remediation via nano-micro hybrid fibrous material for contaminant removal is being studied.

The EPA is in the process of remediating the area, removing soil with high arsenic levels from several homes. The site is home to nearly 20,000 people who have felt the impact of the Greater Birmingham Area's legacy of pollution.