Jefferson County is number eighteen and Tuscaloosa County is number twelve on the EPA's new cancer risk from dirty air list.
While politicians and Wayne Studyvin, director of environmental health for the Jefferson County
Department of Health, downplay these findings as a minimal risk there are other causes involved.
The state has allowed companies to exceed their pollution permits by two percent a year.
A federal court has found the practice to be an "illegal, unilateral modification of state regulations."
Birmingham was the fifth most polluted city in 2008.
Children in Birmingham have a much higher rate of asthma due to particulate content of the air. This is also known as soot.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/general-u-s/382952-cities-most-pollution-america.html
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/05-01-2008/0004803995
http://oaspub.epa.gov/airsdata/adnti.ranking?geotype=st&geocode=NY&geoinfo=%3Fst~NY~New+York&pol=Hurb&year=&emis=a&fld=state&fld=county&fld=urb&fld=percent&rpp=25
Apparently the chance of one in 15,971 for getting cancer from dirty air is of minimal concern to Mr. Studyvin, Alabama Politicians, and ADEM.
With Troy King as heir apparent to the gubernatorial throne we can of course expect more of the same.
Studyvin is doing his own testing that he claims is more accurate than the EPA. Could said testing be the evidence for the next pollution case the Alabama tax payer has to foot the bill for.
With a little help from the Governor, the Department of Health, ADEM, and some businesses Jefferson County can shoot right up to number one on next year's list.
Comments
I do hope things get cleaned up and soon. I have a child w/asthma. But the Tuscaloosa News reported that the data was from 2002, and the terrible Tuscaloosa County community was Holt as a result of now-closed Empire Coke. Or are you talking about a different EPA report?
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!