Toxic City
The main contributors to Birmingham's air pollution are the ABC coke plants that burn fuel that emits toxins into the surrounding communities' air and soil. Coke is used to convert iron ore into metallic iron, but a byproduct of this is a deadly toxin, carbon monoxide (sciencedirect.com). This, and other pollutants, are emitted into the air on a 24/7 basis, coating the surrounding area in a thick layer of soot.
There is not enough being done to protect these families or mitigate the risk in any way. This issue has been ongoing for about a hundred years, with proven evidence of knowledge of the issue dating back to 20 years prior to the video. The company has swept their violations under the rug and officials simply do not want to pay the money to assess the risk and take the necessary measures to eliminate the risk. They've done close to nothing to make this neighborhood livable for its inhabitants.
The families can't move because the pollution has greatly diminished their property value. Despite the attractive low-cost of purchasing the home, families are not looking to move into the area because no one wants to move toward the toxicity. Their homes are virtually unsellable, and due to financial circumstances, they can't move out of the toxic area without selling their current home.
I don't think the pollution affects me nearly as much as it does the families living in those neighborhoods. However, it has to affect me in some ways due to the natural flow of wind and the runoff from rain. That has to make it into our water system in some way. The pollution may be in higher concentration in Collegeville and neighboring areas, but it is physically impossible to isolate the pollution risk to those neighborhoods alone. So, yes. I think it does affect me in some capacity.