Experts say it's not the smoke from the Canadian wildfires that's creating the Code Orange air quality alert in Central Alabama. Instead, normal summer time impacts. "There is a lot of traffic-related pollution coming from those roadways and that comes together to create this situation we find ourselves in today," Dr. Jeff Wickliffe, chair of UAB's Department of Environmental Health Sciences, says. Certain industries can play a role in air pollution as well. Doctors say for the most part, relatively healthy people won't notice anything different. Those with underlying respiratory problems like asthma and COPD are the ones faced with potential concerns, if they are outside for too long. "For people that don't have existing conditions, this is still something that can contribute to the development of respiratory diseases and those kind of problems over a long-term," Wickliffe adds.
Parts of Central Alabama faced with air quality concerns
School of Public Health News
June 14, 2023