A study recently published in the journal PLOS Medicine confirms what we already know: air pollution is hazardous to human health. Specifically, the authors found that fine particulate matter was responsible for more than 30,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2015, lowering national life expectancy by approximately 0.15 years. 

What is fine particulate matter?

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), or particle pollution, includes microscopic droplets of solids and liquids that are suspended in the air. It is emitted from industry, power plants, transportation, and other sources. These particles are very harmful to health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. When a person inhales particulate matter, it can lodge deep in the lungs and contribute to major respiratory illnesses. Fine particulate matter can also get in the circulatory system and wreak havoc on the cardiovascular system.

What did they study? 

The team of researchers used “vital registration and population data,” nationally and at the county level, from 1999 to 2015 (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Their data included information about sex, age, and underlying cause of death, and county of residence. The authors looked at per capita income, community poverty levels, race, education, smoking rates, and weather data as well. They used this information to model mortality and life expectancy loss due to exposure to PM2.5 and deaths due to cardiorespiratory diseases. They were also able to estimate benefits of pollution reductions since 1999. 

What did they find?

It should come as no surprise that fine particulate matter concentrations declined from 1999 to 2015 as a result of more stringent air quality standards. Life expectancy increased during the same period as well. The researchers found that even though concentrations had declined, PM2.5 emissions still resulted in thousands of deaths in 2015 — 15,612 deaths in women and 14,757 in men.  

The greatest life expectancy loss was in the Los Angeles area and in Southern states (i.e., Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama). The researchers found greater impacts in counties with lower income and higher poverty compared with wealthier counties, as well as disproportionate meaning air pollution has a disproportionate impact on poor communities. In other words, research continues to show that not only is air pollution deadly but it impacts economically and racially disadvantaged communities more.

The American Lung Association’s 2019 State of the Air report ranked Jefferson County, Ala., as the 14th worst in the U.S. for year-round particle pollution.

Recently, there has been a lot of buzz about Sherman Industries relocating one of its concrete batch plants from Five Points South to Five Points West. This news broke after the company requested an air pollution permit from the Jefferson County Department of Health on April 14. Around the same time it was revealed that the Southside site was proposed to be rezoned for a mixed-use development by Birmingham POD, LLC, which Bham Now reports is connect to a Denver company called Residential Ventures.

Residents requested a public hearing from the Department of Health on the air pollution permit and also urged City Council to exercise its authority to re-zone the property in Five Points West as specified in the Community’s 2015 Western Area Framework Plan. The Department of Health will hold a public hearing on June 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Birmingham Crossplex.

We’ve been getting tons of questions about this from the media, residents, and leaders. So we thought it would be a good idea to answer a few of the most common questions we’ve been getting.

What is a concrete batch plant?

Concrete is made from water, cement, and aggregate (such as sand, crushed stone, slag, fly ash). A batch plant — or batching plant — is just the name of a facility where those ingredients are combined to make concrete.

What’s the main air pollution concern with a concrete plant?

The primary pollutant of concern is particulate matter, or PM. Also called particle pollution, PM is made up of tiny solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. PM comes in many different shapes and sizes and can include everything from acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, and metals, to microscopic bits of soil, pollen, and dust.

Concrete batch plants have a reputation for creating significant amounts of fugitive dust, which consists of tiny crushed up bits of things like sand, silica, aggregate, cement, and metals. Fugitive dust is not emitted from the manufacturing process itself but is rather distributed into the air through other means. In other words, it’s not what you would see coming out of a smoke stack, but instead what you’d see blowing around the property — hence the term “fugitive.” According to the EPA, fugitive dust accounts for 92% of the coarse particle pollution (PM10) in the United States.

What’s a “minor source permit”?

A typical concrete batch plant in the United States has to obtain what is called a “minor source permit” for its air emissions. In Jefferson County, those permits are issued by the health department. Under the Clean Air Act, facilities that emit more than 100 tons per year of any single criteria air pollutant (such as particle pollution), more than 10 tons per year of a single air toxic, or more than 25 tons per year of any combination of air toxics have to get a “major source permit.” Sherman Industries’ plants do not meet those thresholds but do have emissions; therefore, they must get is a minor source permit.

Where does fugitive dust come from?

Some of the most common sources of fugitive dust at concrete batch plants include transfer of the aggregate material to the site; truck and/or equipment loading; aggregate storage piles; and traffic to, from, and near the site.

Does a “minor source permit” mean there’s nothing to worry about?

Air pollution is leading environmental risk factor for premature death and disease in the world. Because particulate matter is microscopic, it can be inhaled into your lungs and can negatively affect the heart, lung and even brain health. Research has shown that particle pollution is linked to neurological diseases like dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, and multiple sclerosis. It also stunts the cognitive development of children and can permanently damage the brain. Exposure to air pollution is linked to stroke, heart disease and other cardiovascular health issues. As little as 15 minutes of exposure to particle pollution can result in an increase in blood pressure. Finally, The most obvious symptoms of air pollution exposure come from the respiratory system. Asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and numerous other lung diseases are known to be directlly linked to breathing dirty air. There is no safe level of exposure to particle pollution. 

Who is the most at risk?

In general, the people most at risk to the harmful effects of air pollution are children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with preexisting health troubles like asthma, COPD, and diabetes. In addition to those vulnerable groups, research has consistently shown that people of color and low-income families are disproportionately burdened by air pollution. In fact, Birmingham ranks in the top 15 urban areas with the largest disparity in air pollution exposure between whites and nonwhites, placing an undue burden on poor communities and people of color. Clean, healthy air is a right, and one’s skin color or socioeconomic status shouldn’t determine their opportunity to live a healthy life.

What can I do?

Attend the Department of Health hearing on June 6 mentioned above and voice your concerns about Sherman’s draft air permit. Talk to your City Councilor about what they’re doing to proactively prevent things like this from happening again, especially without consulting with the community first. If you’re opposed to the re-location, call Sherman and ask them to consider a different location not in the heart of a densely populated residential area.

By the way, how do I report air pollution concerns in Birmingham?

Whether you see a plume of smoke or smell something, you should always report that instance of air pollution. If you have air pollution concerns in your community and you live in Jefferson County, this is how to get those complaints on the record:

1. If you see air pollution (for example, a plume of black smoke) take pictures. Not only is this evidence of the problem, but it helps identify the type of pollution and source of the problem you’re dealing with.
2. Submit a complaint to the regulatory agency. In Jefferson County, you report air pollution to the Department of Health (JCDH). When you submit your complaint, be very specific. Include the date and time you noticed the air pollution. If you experienced a smell, describe it as best you can. (For example, did it smell like tar or rotten eggs?) The best ways to report pollution to JCDH are:
   • Call 205.930.1276 or 205.930.1230
   • If you have a picture, email it with your complaint to: [email protected]
3. After you report the pollution to JCDH, tell us. We will do our best to help you investigate and solve these issues. Share your complaint with us by calling 205.701.4272 or emailing Haley Lewis at [email protected]. You can also share your complaint at gaspgroup.org/airwatch.