High ozone levels and a quickly growing population are making it tough to implement regulations to reduce pollution, says a Cal State LA professor.
The quality of the air in California may be improving, but it's still dire.
That's according to the American Lung Association's recent "State of the Air 2017" report, which labeled the state and region a leader in air pollution, with the highest ozone levels.
The annual study ranks the cleanest and most polluted areas in the country by grading counties in the U.S. based on harmful recorded levels of ozone (smog) and particle pollution. The 2017 report used data collected from 2013 to 2015.
The top three regions in the country with the worst smog levels were Los Angeles-Long Beach; Bakersfield; and Fresno-Madera; Salinas, though, was recognized as one of the cleanest cities in the state and the country.
"The Los Angeles basin is exposed to the highest ozone levels in the country," explains Steve LaDochy, Ph.D., professor of geosciences and environment at California State University, Los Angeles, an expert in air pollution and climate. "It is getting better here, but it's still the worst."
The toughest CAFE standard in the country does not seem to have solved California's air pollution problem.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by NewNic on Friday June 23 2017, @12:00AM (2 children)
Solved, no. Improved, yes!
The editorializing makes it sound like the CAFE standards are not required. They are.
lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory
(Score: 2) by KilroySmith on Friday June 23 2017, @12:22AM (1 child)
As someone who grew in SoCal in the '70s, I wholeheartedly agree with you. The basin is vastly cleaner today than it was then - imagine the pollution if Cali's extreme focus on air pollution didn't exist.
That said, with as many people as there are living there, and the commuting that they're doing, Cali should simply tax all gas/diesel vehicles to pay for even more EV incentives. Transform 50% of the cars on the road to electric, and a lot of the problem goes away. They could certainly justify it by noting the medical expenses that taxpayers are paying for people affected by smog - an externalized cost that they could recoup.
(Score: 3, Informative) by NewNic on Friday June 23 2017, @05:46PM
Instead of which, CA just increased taxes on EVs. [engadget.com] But then, the state still gives incentives to people who buy or lease EVs [sandiegouniontribune.com]. Talk about mixed messages!
lib·er·tar·i·an·ism ˌlibərˈterēənizəm/ noun: Magical thinking that useful idiots mistake for serious political theory