Air quality in Montgomery County

What is the current level of air pollution in Montgomery?

Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. According to a 2010 census, the estimated population was approximately 206,000. It is situated on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico close to the Alabama River.

Towards the middle of 2021, Montgomery was experiencing a period of “Moderate” quality air with a US AQI reading of 53. This United States Air Quality Index number is an internationally used set of metrics supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is used to compare air quality in different cities throughout the world using comparable standards. It is calculated by using the levels of the six most commonly found pollutants. If figures are not all available, the figure is calculated using what information is available. In the case of Montgomery, the only figure available was that of the pollutant PM2.5 which was recorded as being 12.9 µg/m³. This figure can be seen to be slightly over the WHO target figure of 10 µg/m³.

With levels such as these, the advice is to close doors and windows to prevent more dirty air from entering the room. Those of a sensitive disposition are advised to remain indoors or if travel outside is unavoidable, then a good quality mask is recommended. The table at the top of this page will help with that decision.

Does the level of air pollution vary over the course of the year in Montgomery?

Air pollution can be affected by many variables, therefore it easily changes very rapidly. Looking back at the figures published by IQAir for 2020, it can readily be seen that the best two months of the year for good quality air were in February and again in April, with respective figures of 9.7 and 8.3 µg/m³. These figures are below the target as suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) who suggest a figure less than 10 µg/m³. The next best month was in January when the air quality was classified as being “Good” with a reading between 10 and 12 µg/m³. (10.4 µg/m³ to be precise). For the remaining nine months of the year, Montgomery enjoyed “Moderate” quality air with readings between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³.

Historically, records were first kept in 2017 when the measured figure was 13.3 µg/m³ and it has only varied slightly since then. 2018 returned a figure of 13.5 µg/m³, followed by 13.1 µg/m³ in 2019 and 13.3 µg/m³ in 2020. However, 2020's reading may not be a true reflection of the real situation because of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During 2020, many office workers were told to stay and work from home so no need to drive to and from work each day. Many smaller industries were classified as being unnecessary at that time and trading was to be suspended. These combined measures saved a lot of pollution from being emitted into the environment.

Where does the pollution in Montgomery come from?

Alabama ranks in 12^th place in the United States with the most air pollution generated from coal- and oil-fired power plants.

The particle pollution tracked typically contains soot or tiny particles from coal-fired power plants, diesel engines, wildfires or wood-burning equipment. However, year-round particle pollution levels have dropped thanks to the clean-up of coal-fired power plants and the retirement of old, dirty diesel engines.

Both ozone and particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10) are dangerous to public health and can increase the risk of premature death and other serious health effects such as lung cancer, asthma attacks, cardiovascular damage, and developmental and reproductive harm. Ozone and particle pollution threaten everyone, especially children, older adults and people living with lung disease. Although this report does not cover data from 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of air pollution on lung health is of heightened concern.

Setting off fireworks during events such as the Diwali in India, Independence Day in the USA, Lantern Festival in China and Taiwan, Guy Fawkes (Bonfire Night) in the UK and, in many countries, New Year’s celebrations cause short-term air-quality deteriorations. Fireworks lead to elevated concentrations of pollutants such as gaseous pollutants (sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides), particulate matter (e.g. PM10, PM2.5), water-soluble ions and metals. The measurements taken from local monitoring stations show the extent of the increase. Figures can increase by as much as 5 times their usual levels in the time frame following these seasonal celebrations.

What can be done to improve the air quality in Montgomery?

Americans spend a lot of time indoors: in our houses, at work and in school. It is just as important to care about the quality of our air while indoors as it is when we are outside but this fact is often ignored.

Many paints, varnishes, adhesives, cleaners and other products used in the maintenance of buildings give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — chemicals that evaporate in the air — that could lead to indoor air quality problems. Many manufacturers now recognize this as a problem and have started to produce low VOC products.

Radon is an invisible, radioactive gas created during the natural breakdown of uranium in rocks and soils and not many people will have heard of it or know anything about it. Montgomery County, MD has high levels of radon in the soil, and every home in Montgomery County should therefore be tested for radon. Breathing air that contains radon may cause lung cancer. The United States Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

Mold is another possible source of indoor pollution that many people will not even think about as being hazardous. When mold grows indoors, it can damage building materials, furnishings, clothes, and other organic materials. They can also cause respiratory and other health problems for the occupants. Mold needs just three conditions to be right before it grows. Remove one or more and mold cannot survive. It needs a damp environment, a food source such as leaves, wood, paper products, wallboard, insulation materials, ceiling tiles or other organic-based materials. It also needs the correct temperature which is very similar to the range most people have in their homes.

In addition to federal and state measures, local governments and agencies in the region are expanding their purchases of wind energy and low emissions vehicles, and are building upon their energy efficiency programs.

Open burning is defined as a fire where any material is burned on the ground or in an open receptacle other than a furnace, incinerator or other equipment connected to a chimney. Campfires are considered open burning. Montgomery council outlaws such occurrences and will impose a fine for those who break this law. There are exceptions for small personal fires for outdoor cooking and heating purposes but even these have strict limits as to what can be burnt and the size of the fire. Certain items such as garbage, tires, leaves and garden waste cannot be burned unless a permit is obtained.

What are the detrimental effects on health due to air pollution?

The Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990, requires the federal Environmental Protection Agency to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six common air pollutants: PM2.5 and PM10, ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and lead (Pb). Of the six pollutants, particle pollution and ground-level ozone are the most widespread health threats.

Ground level ozone is formed when intense sunlight interacts with oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Ozone forming NOx and VOCs come from many sources such as vehicle and power plant emissions, lawnmowers and other fossil-fuel-burning equipment, and vapors from gasoline, paints, and industrial processes.

Ozone pollution is a great concern during the summer months because strong sunlight and hot weather result in the formation of harmful ozone concentrations in the air we breathe. Many urban and suburban areas throughout the United States have high levels of ground-level ozone. But many rural areas in the country are also subject to high ozone levels as winds carry emissions hundreds of miles away from their sources.

Breathing ozone, a primary component of urban smog, can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Ground-level ozone also can reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Children whose bodies are still growing are at particular risk as are people who work outdoors.

Exposure to high levels of air pollution can cause a variety of adverse health outcomes. It increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease and lung cancer. Both short and long-term exposure to air pollutants has been associated with health impacts. The actual risk of adverse effects depends on your current health status, the pollutant type and concentration, and the length of your exposure to the polluted air.

More severe impacts affect people with pre-existing respiratory conditions and problems. Children, the elderly and pregnant women are more susceptible. The most harmful pollutants which are closely associated with excessive premature mortality, are fine PM2.5 particles that can penetrate deep into lung passageways as far as the base of the bronchial tubes where they lodge in the alveoli where they can then pass into the bloodstream.

What does the future hold for cleaner transportation in Montgomery?

The Montgomery County Planning Department is developing the county’s first Pedestrian Master Plan. The plan will make walking safer, more comfortable, more convenient and more accessible for pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The more people it can persuade to walk means fewer polluting vehicles on the streets.

In a similar manner, cycling is being encouraged too. A funding program has been established in order to improve conditions for both cyclists and pedestrians in Montgomery.

Streets are designed and operated to provide safe, accessible, and healthy travel for all users of the system, including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and motorists. The main goal is to maximize safety for all pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, enhance the ecological functions and economic appeal of a streetscape and create streets that are great, dynamic places. The inclusion of trees and other greenery will be introduced in the future, where possible.

Electric vehicles haven’t become profitable yet. While battery development is advancing faster than expected, there is still a lot to be done to bring down unit costs, make production more viable, decrease the total cost of ownership and improve range and infrastructure to achieve parity with traditional combustion engine vehicles. The initial purchase price and ongoing running and maintenance are the main barriers preventing people from changing to electric vehicles. Subsidies or other incentives could be offered in order to encourage more buyers. However, some subsidies are not available to all customers which is the same for tax refunds and the like. And pre-owned electric vehicles remain expensive due to the total lack of assistance when purchasing one of them.

Some customers are skeptical about reliability because of the perceived lack of charging points in their locality. Potential drivers are “scared” of being let down out in the country due to a lack of charge. Globally, drivers also regard battery range and limited charging stations as a top barrier to purchase. Even in European countries where there’s a higher concentration of charging points, these concerns top the list next to cost.

As briefly mentioned before, Montgomery has exciting plans for more than 1,000 miles of trails, paths, and separated cycle lanes; expanded bicycle parking near transit and in commercial areas; and bicycle-supportive programs and policies.

This plan also places a larger emphasis on cycling for transportation, rather than recreation, than previous ones did. About half of the county's trips are under 3.5 miles, and many of the commute trips are to local metro stations. Planners see this as an opportunity to capture a larger percentage of those trips by cycle.