Even though several heavy manufacturing facilities have closed down in the western part of the metro area, Birmingham still has terrible air pollution. The toxins we breathe everyday, particularly in the Wylam and North Birmingham areas, are terribly damaging to what is otherwise one of the better cities in which to live in the South.
A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2002 – 2004 found Birmingham to be 1 of 39 areas designated by the EPA as exceeding the existing National Air Quality Standards for PM 2.5. PM 2.5 are particles in the air that are 1/28th the diameter of human hair, or 1/45th the diameter of a grain of fine beach sand. Although they cannot be seen with the naked eye, they can cause serious health consequences.
A 2005 report by the American Lung Association found that Birmingham ranked as the 10th most polluted by short-term particle pollution and tied for 15th most polluted year-round particle pollution. Jefferson County ranked 13th on the list for short-term particle pollution and tied for 19th for year-round particle pollution.
Just this past year Birmingham was named as the 5th ranked city in the United States for the most ozone pollution.
A study published by the Jefferson County Health Department in March 2009 showed that Jefferson County is still not within the National Air Quality Standards, despite the closing of several industries which had contributed to earlier results.
Our firm, along with several other law firms, represent many residents of the Wylam community against a number of companies in the area in a pollution / toxic substance damage case. The suit requests compensatory and punitive damages for property damage, trespass, nuisance (loss of enjoyment of the property) and will eventually seek damages for adverse health effects to some residents. Hopefully, through the efforts of the Jefferson County Health Department, the EPA and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, future generations in the Wylam community will not suffer the adverse effects of pollution as have their parents and grandparents. While we want good, quality jobs for our citizens, we don’t want them at the expense of the healthy living of our citizens.
Lloyd Gathings
