Environment & Energy

The Allegheny Front

00000176-e6f7-dce8-adff-f6f770520000The Allegheny Front is a radio program covering environmental issues in Western Pennsylvania. The Allegheny Front began in 1991 and continues to serve the community as the most insightful source of local and regional environmental news and information on the radio. The program explores environmental issues affecting the community through stories, interviews, news, and commentaries.

Learning About Pollution Can Be Fun ... When You Get To Pick A Giant Nose

90.5 WESA | By Andy Kubis | Allegheny Front

Published August 10, 2017 at 12:44 PM EDT

Our region’s dirty air is a big problem. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun with it, right?

GASP – the Group Against Smog and Pollution – is trying to make learning about air pollution and its impacts on our health a little more engaging. Or gross, depending on who you ask.

At the Pittsburgh nonprofit’s new exhibit you can make boogers (slime) laced with pollution (beads and sequins) and pick a giant nose to learn facts about air pollution. But it’s the real. live. pig. lungs that have the kids (and adults) most excited. Here’s a video of them in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdgO_PYhYmA&feature=youtu.be

This pig probably didn’t smoke. Or grown up in Pittsburgh. It’s lungs are nice and pink and hold a LOT of air.

You, too, can pump up some real pig lungs, dress up as an air quality super hero, or pick the giant nose — you know you want to.

IF YOU GO:

GASP’s Air Fair is open Thursday, Aug. 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Assemble on Penn Avenue in Garfield. There will even be air pollution desserts! Parts of the exhibit will remain on display for the rest of August.

Air quality defenders Sandra Luo, Jeremy Vandenberg and Emily Persico (L-R).

Find more of this report and others at the site of our partner, Allegheny Front.