L.A. Tops List of Nation's Most Polluted Cities

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Not surprising I guess. But 46% of the country lives in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution, that's surprising.

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L.A. tops list of nation's most polluted
NOAKI SCHWARTZ, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles can continue being the butt of smog jokes now that it has once again topped the American Lung Association's bad air list of most polluted cities in America.

The association found that the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside metropolitan area had the worst air based on 2003 through 2005 figures.

The Pittsburgh area was ranked as the nation's second most polluted metropolitan area followed by Bakersfield, Calif., Birmingham, Ala., Detroit and Cleveland. Visalia, Calif., Cincinnati, Indianapolis and St. Louis rounded out the top 10.

The news wasn't all bad for Los Angeles. Despite the dubious distinction, the number of days residents breathed the nation's worst ozone levels was fewer than in previous years.

"Nobody is surprised that LA has an air pollution problem," said Janice Nolen, the association's assistant vice president for national policy and advocacy. "The problems there are one of the reasons we have the Clean Air Act. But it is important for folks to know that there has been some improvement."

The organization based the rankings on ozone pollution levels produced when heat and sunlight come into contact with pollutants from power plants, cars, refineries and other sources. The group also studied particle pollution levels emitted from these sources, which are made up of a mix of tiny solid and liquid particles in the air.

Such pollution can contribute to heart disease, lung cancer and asthma attacks, the association said. Those especially vulnerable to polluted air are children, senior citizens, people who work or exercise outdoors and people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Nearly half of the U.S. population lives in counties that still have unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, even though there appeared to be less ozone in many counties than previous years, the study found.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

May 1, 2007
Breathing dirty air? You can find out with the American Lung Association State of the Air: 2007 report.
Check YOUR air in the 'How's Your Air' box to the left or click on your state in the map below to learn how ozone and particle pollution hurts your lungs -- and what you can do to protect yourself. Tell the EPA to strengthen ozone smog standards -- the state of our air relies on your support.
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[Rohirrim]

My home town takes the award! Hooray!

[HorseHead]

breathin' easy in New England, everybody is invited to come up this summer. Just bring beer....

[Los Broncos]

The smog has been bad here since i was a kid. I remember playing outside with friends and having a heavy chest.

[Steve Sewell]

Originally Posted by Lynchmob72

The smog has been bad here since i was a kid. I remember playing outside with friends and having a heavy chest.

That was from eating paint chips and living under a power line, not the smog.

[Dukes]

Just add that to the numerous reasons why I can't wait to get back to Denver

[Steve Sewell]

Originally Posted by Dukes

Just add that to the numerous reasons why I can't wait to get back to Denver

Man, Denver has HORRIBLE pollution. Denver and L.A. compete annually for the cities with the worst air pollution.

[Los Broncos]

Originally Posted by Steve Sewell

That was from eating paint chips and living under a power line, not the smog.

Ahh ok.

[Steve Sewell]

Originally Posted by Lynchmob72

Ahh ok.

Tommy Boy quote, just joking!

[cabronco]

Originally Posted by Lynchmob72

The smog has been bad here since i was a kid. I remember playing outside with friends and having a heavy chest.

Ya apparently 20 odd years ago, the pollution was twice as bad as it is today. I remember playing w/ my friends and going swimming at the local High School growing up in Orange County. I thought I was going to die walking 1/2 mile home from swimming. My eyes would burn like a mutha most days too. I dont miss all the smog today. I very rarely drive down into LA, unless its a Kings game once or twice a year.

[Los Broncos]

Originally Posted by cabronco

Ya apparently 20 odd years ago, the pollution was twice as bad as it is today. I remember playing w/ my friends and going swimming at the local High School growing up in Orange County. I thought I was going to die walking 1/2 mile home from swimming. My eyes would burn like a mutha most days too. I dont miss all the smog today. I very rarely drive down into LA, unless its a Kings game once or twice a year.

Yeah same here. I grew up in socal, went to the park pool and had the same thing happen to me. Just so many people living here.

[Los Broncos]

Originally Posted by Steve Sewell

Tommy Boy quote, just joking!

[Rock Chalk]

Odd, Houston was up there at #1 not too long ago and isnt even in the top 10 now?

I dont remember doing anything to curb pollution here...hmm...

[Jason in LA]

I've never seen what the big deal was over the smog. The only time I ever notice it is when I'm in a tall building, or when I'm in a plane that is about to land.

I've always been an outdoor guy. Played football and ran track. Played outside all day as a kid, and I never had any breathing problems.

I never understood why people made such a big deal over the smog, which probably isn't as bad as people make it out to be. People act like the sky isn't blue out here.

Complaining about the smog in LA is like complaining about Shaq's free throw problem. It's not that big of a deal. I didn't have a problem with Shaq's free throw problems because he was leading my Lakers to titles. I don't mind the smog issue because I don't even notice it.

I've never walked out the front door and said "Damn, it's smoggy today, I need to move." But I have walked out of my door in the middle of winter and said "it's a T shirt and shorts day."

[NaptownChief]

So what are all of these vocal Hollywood Green freaks doing to fix this? They sure don't mind running around telling everyone else what they should be doing....maybe they should clean up their own backyard before they proclaim to be an expert and try to push their agenda on everyone else.

[TallyBronco]

Oh, please, stop with the alarmism. Nobody loves pollution, but America's air and water has gotten much cleaner in the last thirty years. LA smog was far far worse in the 1970s.

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by Steve Sewell

Man, Denver has HORRIBLE pollution. Denver and L.A. compete annually for the cities with the worst air pollution.

Granted the air in Denver is getting worse, but NOTHING compares to the **** in the air anywhere near LA. We were out there last month and I thought I was going to croak. My eyes felt as if they were bleeding. F-ing nasty.

[watermock]

People like to hammer GE as a monolith, but they have done some damn good things regarding specifically coal burning powerplants.

I don't like strip mining anymore than anyone, but it's an evil that beats financing the enemy.

Say what you want about Nixon, but he created the EPA and the skies are cleaner now by far. A hundred years ago, London and other cities were absolutely blackened. Cars are so clean now it's comical compared to before cats. No not kitty cats, catalytic converters. Find me a cure for the litter box. I tried to teach Pooter to go into the toilet but he never caught on. heh. Evidently it can be done.

GE has also made jet engines that are cleaner and quieter, as well as more fuel efficient that can propel a jumbo with two engines.

Anyone who travels on Santa Fe has seen the huge coal trains from Wyoming.

I'm not saying GE is an angel, just they have made some good innovations.

There is a HUGE ethanol plant going up close to me.

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by Jason in LA

I've never seen what the big deal was over the smog. The only time I ever notice it is when I'm in a tall building, or when I'm in a plane that is about to land.

I've always been an outdoor guy. Played football and ran track. Played outside all day as a kid, and I never had any breathing problems.

I never understood why people made such a big deal over the smog, which probably isn't as bad as people make it out to be. People act like the sky isn't blue out here.

Complaining about the smog in LA is like complaining about Shaq's free throw problem. It's not that big of a deal. I didn't have a problem with Shaq's free throw problems because he was leading my Lakers to titles. I don't mind the smog issue because I don't even notice it.

I've never walked out the front door and said "Damn, it's smoggy today, I need to move." But I have walked out of my door in the middle of winter and said "it's a T shirt and shorts day."

I prefer snow and breathable air, in lieu of being able to wear shorts every day in the winter, although I probably wear shorts on 30-40% of the winter days.

You probably don't notice for the same reason a Sewage Treatment Plant worker doesn't notice the distinct smell of ****!

[DomCasual]

Believe it or not, there are several days each year when Salt Lake City has the worst air in the country. You wouldn't believe it some winter days. The smog just gets locked in against the mountains and has nowhere to go. This last winter, there were people hopping on planes and leaving for several weeks at a time, just to wait it out.

I really don't like living here. Really.

[Los Broncos]

Originally Posted by DomCasual

Believe it or not, there are several days each year when Salt Lake City has the worst air in the country. You wouldn't believe it some winter days. The smog just gets locked in against the mountains and has nowhere to go. This last winter, there were people hopping on planes and leaving for several weeks at a time, just to wait it out.

I really don't like living here. Really.

I have family out there and i love visiting my mother to go get some fresh air.

[Jason in LA]

Originally Posted by TailgateNut

I prefer snow and breathable air, in lieu of being able to wear shorts every day in the winter, although I probably wear shorts on 30-40% of the winter days.

You probably don't notice for the same reason a Sewage Treatment Plant worker doesn't notice the distinct smell of ****!

You think the air is unbreathable? That's a reach. I'd say that people make too much of a big deal over the air in LA. I'm not going to say that the air is great, but come on. It's far from unbreathable. To me it's not even an issue.

If people want to complain about LA, smog isn't the thing to complain about. Complain about the traffic, but smog? Like I said, that's like complaining about Shaq's free throws. It's not as big of a deal as people make it out to be.

[CBF1]

We are #1


We are #1


We are #1

And I thought that crime, over population, traffic and high prices made SoCal a bad place to live. I will have to reconsider now

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by CBF1

We are #1


We are #1


We are #1

And I thought that crime, over population, traffic and high prices made SoCal a bad place to live. I will have to reconsider now