Author: kailenke

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Tiny Particles increasing Heart Attacks

A new study in California has linked tiny particles released from cars being inhaled to deaths by way of heart attacks. These scary findings raise consumes of ultrafine particles which are so microscopic that they easily pass through the bloodstream and into the brain and important organs. The study that was conducted concluded that those living near traffic are more prone to being affected by these ultrafine particles. It is important to remember to stay off of major roadways such as those in downtown Los Angeles as they give off some of the world’s most polluted air.

 

 

While it is obvious that major roadways give off the most pollution and hurt the environment most critically, I never fully realized the true danger that standing on a major roadway can elicit. This will make me more cautious when I am near a busy street. It is especially scary because of how fine the particles being accidentally consumed are and how they can easily travel into your bloodstream and critical organs. This study further goes to show how dangerous air pollution is and all the negative affects it has on humans.

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California Missed Pollution Deadline

The Los Angeles area is unlikely to make a deadline set for themselves in 2015 to clean coot from their air. The chief smog-fighting agency recently approved a plan to change their deadline for cleaning the soot out of the air, blaming the drought in California for the lack of decline in fine particle pollution. The agency will likely ask for an extension up to the year of 2017. With this extension being approved by a 10-1 vote, many air quality experts are up in arms saying that Southern California needs to do more and by missing this deadline it shows that not enough is being done, despite their being a drought.

 

I am disappointed that California is extending their deadlines and making excuses for this extremely important issue. The issue of smog is extremely relevant to southern Californian’s and it’s visibility, although decreasing is absolutely disgusting. While I understand the drought likely played a role in the original deadline not being met, I would like to see more statistics on their progress rather than just extending their deadline. I hope by the end of next year the new deadline will be met so they can continue to decrease the smog levels in Southern California.

 

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Drought Worsening Smog

The extreme drought in California has dramatically slowed down efforts to remove smog from Southern California air. The prolonged dry spells has translated to a layer of heat trapping cooler air lower to the ground. This action causes pollution’s main concentration to occur closer to the ground. The air pollution in southern California is an extreme burden on citizens and also puts them at health risk. Hot conditions have also led to more forest fires, which increase air pollution with the levels of smoke being released into the atmosphere.

 

This article speaks to how the extreme drought in California has affected the air pollution. With California being in one of its worst droughts ever, the temperatures have increased making the smog’s level of concentration to drop significantly and further impacting humans. This is alarming and particularly scary as there is no clear solution. With this being said relief could come as soon as winter with storms and rain stirring up the air.

 

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Overseas Airs affecting California’s Pollution

Increasing emissions from China and other fast-growing Asian countries are rapidly traveling across the Pacific Ocean and increasing levels of ozone in the California as well as other Western States according to a recently completed study. In a weeks’ time, winds carry ozone formed by emissions Asia to the U.S. where it adds to pollution and smog. Carmel Valley, which scientists say should have extremely clean air have found pollution on their boarders. Three other cities affected by these access emissions are Bakersfield, Fresno and Los Angeles.

 

This study did not shock me as I have previously looked into how terrible China’s contributions to air pollution across the globe is, however China should be punished for their air affecting cities across the world from them. It is not fair to Californian’s that we have to breathe the polluted air being created half way across the globe. While China is attempting to decease their emissions substantially, I think they should have to pay money for their lack of control on the important issue of air quality.

 

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Southern Californian Cancer Rate

Since the year 2005, Southern Californian’s cancer rate has dropped by a titanic rate of 65 percent. While this number seems like a tremendous success and step in the right direction, regional air quality regulators still say this number is way too high. The recent 2015 analysis found that the constant exposure to toxic air contaminants in Southern California could result in 418 cancer cases for every 1 million people’s lifetimes. This number is down from the 1,194 cases per million found in the same study during 2005. Health experts conclude that 10 cases per every million qualifies healthy air.

 

The statistics presented in this article where very astonishing and disgusting in my opinion. The fact that over 1,000 people out of every million would obtain cancer from simply living in Southern California is horrendous and changes must continue to be made at a rapid pace. While health experts conclude that 10 cases per every million qualifies healthy air, that number still seems too high to me.   However, if Southern California could make it to that number in the relatively near future it would be a tremendous success.

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NASA’s US moniter

http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/new-nasa-images-highlight-us-air-quality-improvement/#.VHLE_vl4pcQ

 After ten years, NASA’s satellite which monitors six particularly dangerous pollutants found that people living in big United States cities are breathing nitrogen dioxide (a yellow gas which can cause respiratory problems). The gas is produced during the combustion of gasoline and is a very strong proxy to the overall health of air. Many graphs are depicted which go to show that air pollution in America is decreasing, however in major cities, Nitrogen Dioxide is increasing. This provides a gaping difference between the air quality for those living in rural and suburban areas of America.

The graphs and pictures shown on this website of NASA’s satellite goes to show how air pollution in America as a whole is improving, but the quality of air in big cities is more unhealthy than it has ever been. These pictures give great visual representation as to what exactly is happening in the Unite State’s atmosphere and levels of Nitrogen Dioxide. The purpose of this article was to educate those who live in big cities of their increased medical risks due to this very dangerous pollutant.

NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.22

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Almost Half Living in Dangerous Conditions

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/air-pollution-dangerously-high-for-almost-half-of-us/

A little under 50 percent of Americans are living in unhealthy air conditions. This number has increased five percent from last year, 42 to 47 percent. The five communities with the worst air pollution in the United States were all in the state of California.  Los Angeles-Long Beach had the highest ozone levels, while Fresno-Madera was found to have the most particle pollution. Both of these cities are located in California which is particularly alarming as Californians. This being said, things are not all bad as Salinas California is the least polluted city in the United States.

 This article gave lots of statistics on the health of the air in the United States, particularly the odd trends in California. California has both the five highest rates of air pollution, and the lowest overall rate. This report also goes to scare Americans as over 140 million Americans live in areas with high ozone layers. High ozone layers puts people at risk of premature death, aggravated asthma, difficulty breathing and future cardiovascular problems. This report further goes to show how American cities’ pollution levels have changed throughout the last four years and shows both many promising positives and alarming negatives.

“Air Pollution Dangerously High for Almost Half of U.S., American Lung Association Reports.” CBSNews. CBS Interactive, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.

 

 

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Nations Air Quality Worsens

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/30/nations-air-quality-worsens/8466889/

 The 2014 state of the air report for the United States came out just a few weeks ago and shows many positives and negatives about the pollution levels here in the United States. The most substantial piece of information given was that 147.6 million people live in areas where air quality remains unhealthy. This number is absurdly high and has increased by 16 million since 2013’s report, despite all the regulations that had been put into place. On the brighter side of the spectrum, of the twenty five cities with the highest air pollution rates, 18 of them have dropped. With this being said, all twenty five still have air which does not meet standards of living.

This article’s purpose was to inform and scare readers living in United States that although air pollution levels are getting better, the country still has a long way to go in terms of having healthy air. With regulations and the issue becoming more prevalent, United States citizens should be alarmed to the increase in millions of people living in unhealthy cities. While individually we cannot do a lot to stop this world-wide issue, each of us can play a role. This report helps educated Americans of a great danger we are still facing as a country.

Bowerman, USATODAY Mary. “Good News/bad News for U.S. Air Quality.”USA Today. Gannett, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.

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Smog Worsening in California

http://www.sci-tech-today.com/news/Heat__Drought_Worsen_Calif__Smog/story.xhtml?story_id=023001AFX3S4#

The extreme drought in California has dramatically slowed down efforts to remove smog from Southern California air. The prolonged dry spells has translated to a layer of heat trapping cooler air lower to the ground. This action causes pollution’s main concentration to occur closer to the ground. The air pollution in southern california is an extreme burden on citizens and also puts them at health risk. Hot conditions have also led to more forest fires, which increase air pollution with the levels of smoke being released into the atmosphere.

This article speaks to how the extreme drought in California has affected the air pollution. With California being in one of it’s worst droughts ever, the temperatures have increased making the smog’s level of concentration to drop significantly and further impacting humans. This is alarming and particularly scary as there is no clear solution. With this being said relief could come as soon as winter with storms and rain stirring up the air.

“Heat, Drought Worsen Smog in California | Sci-Tech Today.” SciTech Today RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014..

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Children With ADD

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/11/06/link-found-between-mothers-exposure-to-air-pollution-and-adhd/

More than eleven percent of children born in the United States have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In a study conducted by Columbia University, children exposed to air pollution during pregnancy were five times as likely to have this disorder by the young age of nine. “During the fetal period and early childhood years, the brain is rapidly developing and vulnerable to neurotoxic insults that may manifest as adverse outcomes in childhood and adulthood.” Previous to this study, air pollution has been linked to other severe issues such as developmental delays, reduced IQ and symptoms of anxiety depression, and even cancer.

This article suggested that air pollution has a direct correlation with children being born or obtaining Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at a young age. This study was conducted using only United States born children living in urban areas whose parents were nonsmokers. These figures are extremely alarming and further goes to show the danger of air pollution in today’s society. With the rate of this disorder being five times as likely to occur for children whose parents work in urban areas in the United States, the effects on Children living in India and China (world pollution leaders) is extremely scary.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/11/06/link-found-between-mothers-exposure-to-air-pollution-and-adhd/