FAIRHOPE, Ala. — It’s no secret that we shouldn’t handle the oil that has been making its way onto our beaches and into coastal waterways. Health officials have warned us of the dangers of contact with the toxic substance since day one.

But what about the hazardous chemicals we cannot see? What about the pollutants that become airborne when the oil evaporates?

They will be the focus of “What’s in the Air: What we know, what we don’t know, and what we need to know,” a forum to be held Friday, at 6 p.m., at the University of South Alabama Baldwin County Performance Center in Fairhope. The event is open to the public, but seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Five professors from USA’s Earth Sciences Department will discuss air quality, as well as the volatile and semi-volatile compounds that are emitted into the atmosphere because of the Deepwater Horizon incident.

For the full story, pick up a copy of the June 30 Fairhope Courier.