BIRMINGHAM – Air in Alabama’s four largest cities contains enough dangerous chemicals to potentially endanger the health of thousands of people, according to a study released Monday by environmentalists.

The report, compiled by the Conservation Alabama Foundation, found excessive levels of toxic substances in the air in Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery and Huntsville, said executive director Adam Snyder. Though smaller, Phenix City had the same problem, he said.

Of 15 chemicals that were studied, data showed levels in the air that were “far beyond” safety limits established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, he said. Thirteen of those substances have been linked to cancer.

Snyder said the study doesn’t suggest that people leave metropolitan areas for health’s sake.

“Our goal with this report is to elevate the issue so something can be done with it,” he said. “We want the state to do something to clean up the air.”

The report also doesn’t conclude that five cities are the only ones in the state with air pollution problems, Snyder said: Those are just the only places where monitoring has been conducted.

“There could be more out there. We just don’t have the data,” he said.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management said it had a copy of the study.

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