Access Denied. (2019, November 9). California Air Quality: Mapping the Progress. usnews. Retrieved March 8, 2020, from https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-11-06/california-air-quality-mapping-the-progress
California is currently in a conflict with the Trump administration over the states longlasting authority to create its own standards for emissions. Since the issues are so extreme and unique in California, the administration has moved to revoke a waiver that allows the state to create stricter restrictions than the federal government imposes. Although California has seen some of the greatest improvements in air quality, there is still more to be done.
Ed Avol, a professor of clinical preventive medicine at USC, is pushing for these changes as he knows that the problems with air pollution go far beyond the visual side. It creates problems in health such as watering eyes, respiratory issues, and cancer. These problems are so severe due to California’s large population, warm climate, car culture, wind patterns, and geography. His studies have found that people over 20 y/o have experienced 20% less smog related asthma incidents. With the huge improvements made to the pollution issue, California still has five areas that register for the highest levels of ozone pollution in the nation. I would have liked to see some possible, specific solutions to these issues throughout the article.
Its good to see what in the past California has done to combat climate change however like you mentioned there is alway more to be done. I didn’t realize what a big impact air pollution had on people besides the aesthetic aspect of it. Do you think that there is a significant risk to people with preexisting respiratory issues when it comes to air pollution?
Yes, I really do think that people with respiratory issues are at a high risk in places with higher air pollution. These kinds of pollution also result in health issues beyond just respiratory.
I like what you had to say about air pollution. There is definitely more to be done, but at very least California is leading the way for the rest of the nation to follow.
Yes, good point.
Scary that air pollution creates problems in health such as watering eyes, respiratory issues, and cancer.
Yes, extremely scary.