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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: 2) by bob_super on Friday June 23 2017, @12:21AM (1 child)
Don't forget that the ships themselves burn the worst, heaviest, most toxic fuel of any transportation mode. That effect is also seen in Port Hueneme, further north, where there are less diesel trucks: massive car import port.
Long Beach: Nasty ships, plus idle trucks, plus the bloody highways filled with no-regulation diesel pickups and defeat-regulation cars idling for hours, with the ocean's inflow blocked by >2km tall mountains ... The fact you can see your nose is a testament to the tough CA emission regulations.
They're not about to drop the electric car incentives, and short-range electric heavy-duty trucks will sell like hotcakes.
The central valley pollution is mostly agricultural: dust and toxic stuff.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @09:15AM
Yup. It's called The Los Angeles Basin for a reason.
It's surrounded by mountains and all the crap that those legacy ICEs spew just hangs around.
...and with "the Santa Ana winds blowing hot from the north" [and east], that may (seasonally) blow all the crap out to sea, and you may then get to see The Hollywood Sign or Mt. Baldy, but 20 and 30mph gusts are just one more thing for us to bitch about.
...and there are way too many vehicles being operated.
Road congestion and commute times are just ridiculous.
Los Angeles County has made significant investment in electric light rail public transit.
That works quite well in those corridors where it exists.
Extremely fast--especially noticeable at rush hour when you zip by all the folks sitting in cars.
...but, for buses, L.A. County gov't seems still intent on buying internal combustion engine things.
Considering the lifetimes of those, buying electric buses would be a much smarter choice now.
The L.A. Bus Riders Union is pushing for electrics (and more buses and more frequent trips).
Zero-cost fares for public transit is another idea:
Every person not in a 1-passenger-per-car commute makes it better for those who are.
...and, IMO, the folks who make that "convenient" personal vehicle choice should be willing to pay to subsidize the folks making things easier for them, via some kind of additional tax.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]