Worst Smog Strikes California, Air Pollution Rises

Air pollution heightens in Southern California this summer as it was stricken by a worst smog in years. Many people consult medical treatment for respiratory illness. This is caused by persistent heat and pollution.

The data from South Coast Air Quality Management District showed that the ozone, which is the lung-searing gas in smog that triggers asthma and other health problems, has exceeded federal standards on 91 days so far this year compared to 67 days over the same period last year. It is recorded in June, about only four days had healthy air across the South Coast basin and in July, the ozone levels violated the federal health standards each day except July 31. Meanwhile, in August each day has been over the federal limit of 70 parts per billion, according to LA Times.

Jim Birakos, a spokesman for the Air Quality Management District said that it could not be only the worst pollution day of the year, but the worst of the 1970's. He is responsible for the air quality in a 6,400 square mile area in Southern California.

Philip Fine, the deputy executive officer for the South Coast air district stated that they have had a lot of high days, they have high peaks and they are about halfway through the ozone season. He further stated that the increased emissions are to blame. This is due to a wide variety of regulations that mandate increasingly cleaner trucks, cars and other vehicles. He also blamed the increase in smog on the abnormally stagnant weather. This includes the most persistent pollution-trapping inversion layers in years.

Time reports that the rising temperatures in Southern California are due to El Nino, climate change and other factors. These involve heated hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide pollution from vehicles, which leads to smog. The storms might have clear the air. On the other hand, they have been in short supply in the state's drought.