Chasing Clean Air

Ask Donna: Kids Suffering From Metal Contamination, Where Should We Move For Cleaner Air?

Dear Donna,

I am a mom with two kids and both are suffering of heavy metal contamination.

Ask Donna: So Where Are Our Rights To Breathe Clean Air?

Hi Donna,

I am writing for several folks who are looking to breath free. We live in Candler NC, 28715. We have a couple who live in our little valley and they burn all the time. They have burned three times this week since Monday and three times last week. They would have burned more, but it rained. The people I am writing for are older people who live in a mobile home park, who have all kinds of health problems. They range from COPD, breathing problems to cancer survivors. Just like me they want to breath free. We have not been able to get any of the local agencies to help us. We have been told they are within their rights. So where are our rights? 

Ask Donna: Where Do I Find Cleaner Air In California?

 
Donna, 

Every morning I am searching for websites that will answer my questions: 

Where do I find clean air in Marin County; in the Bay Area, in California... to live, to vacation? Which politicians or organizations are truly committed to clean air? Why is there a lack of media attention to clean air? Why is the general public complacent about clean air?

Ask Donna: Do Certain Parts Of Los Angeles Have Cleaner Air?

Dear Donna,

I have a question about Los Angeles. 

Is it true that there are certain parts of the city that have relatively cleaner air than say the Valley? Or is the entire city plagued by severe air pollution? I would appreciate if you could elaborate on this.

Much thanks,

Lisa Reik from Israel

Dear Lisa,

There are folks who believe that coastal areas like Santa Monica and Malibu have cleaner air than the San Fernando Valley.

For the most part this is true because pollution settles in the Valleys, and temperatures are higher. When sun mixes with air pollution, toxins and ozone--the stuff that burns eyes and lungs and aggravates asthma--are created and magnified. 

But all of Los Angeles County suffers hot temperatures; it's a matter of degrees: Hot. Hotter. Certainly the Valleys and inland areas are worse than the coasts.

As you see from top photo I took last spring, air pollution extends over the ocean. You don't see this everyday but you see it often. 

The next photo I took from a plane two summers ago, descending into LAX from the east, meaning this is a photo of Los Angeles neighborhoods on the flatlands, in other words, areas some people think are better than say, the San Fernando Valley. 

Ask Donna: Toronto Man Seeks Cleaner Air

Dear Donna,

I truly enjoyed your articles on cleaner air. I have been in search of cleaner air in Canada for several years. Toronto, where I live, may be be one of the dirtiest cities in Canada, for air quality. I have been to Victoria many times and every time I go there, I can breathe a lot easier. Please confirm if you see it the same way and that is not only my imagination.

Best regards,

Jasar

Dear Jasar,

Small charming Victoria has world's cleaner air than big city Toronto.

Ask Donna: Woman Lives At Intersection of 3 Freeways And Asks: Am I Nutty To Fear The Air I Breathe? NO!

Hi Donna,

Wow, I can't tell you how great it was to find your site! Thank you so much for writing your blog, I really appreciate it, it is well written and I look forward to reading more of your articles. (I have been to Victoria and I loved it.) Well here goes, at the risk of sounding a bit nutty about it all: 

(Reality check from Donna: Suzanne, you are not nutty. You are SANE, conscious and careful with your health and your loved ones health. Bravo!)

The thing is, I share so many of your concerns about clean air, it's really nice to see that I'm not alone. (although i do feel i am much more obsessive and fanatical than you, my poor husband can testify to that!) I always feel like I'm alone when it comes to my concerns/"fear" over the air i breathe; people and friends around me seem so carefree and oblivious about it, (even my mommy friends don't seem to care as we push around our strollers and trucks roll by or an air blower is encountered and while i want to run in the other direction, which I can't help it cause i do...they don't seem to even blink twice! what is going on here??) and I feel constantly vigilant about finding fresh air to breathe. I go out of my way to stay away from or rush away when I encounter those disgusting air blowers, (THEY NEED TO BE BANNED!) motorcycles, or anything that is chugging out crud. I really do feel my friends and aquaintances think im a bit nutty about it, so I try to keep my freaking out over bad air to myself (except my poor husband). Maybe it's cause i have respiratory problems, maybe it's cause i don't want my one yr old to breathe dirtier air than he has to. With that being said....you will think I am crazy for living where i do....but these air concerns only heightened I believe, when I unknowingly moved after I got married into my husband's home and i realized what terrible air quality there is here. 
 

I live in Costa Mesa within a triangle of freeways; the 55, 405 and the 73. Of course there is also John Wayne Airport. 

Ask Donna: North Carolina Woman Needs Clean Air

Dear Donna,

Hi!  Thank you so much for sharing your search. 

I'm going to have to move to a place with cleaner air, since the NC ozone is causing chronic sinus pain.  Your blog is so helpful! 

Ask Donna: Is Air Quality In Palm Springs Getting Better or Worse?

 
Hi Donna- 

Amazing blog!

I ran across your excellent blog while doing research on air quality in Palm Springs. I'm planning on moving down to Palm Springs from San Francisco, but I'm concerned about the poor air quality here. I'm very active outdoors, but have a bit of a respiratory problem that is not an issue in San Francisco, but might be down here. 

I've been tracking Palm Springs air quality via: 

http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.showlocal&CityID=488 

And it's been "unhealthy for sensitive groups" quite a few times since I've been down here from March to current. Yikes! 

I was wondering if you had some insights into the air trends in Palm Springs. Is the rumor that Palm Springs air is generally better than the other side of the mountains true? Is the air quality getting better here or worse? 

All the best, 

Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks for writing.

If you have respiratory issues I would not suggest moving to Palm Springs, especially because you like being active outdoors. I'm aware of people that speak about the air on the other side of the mountain, and, indeed, it was slightly better in my experience in Palm Springs--but far from clean air.

Keep in mind I was recently there not in the heat of summer when toxins can get really cooked into "poison" otherwise known as ozone.

If you're going to start over and you have known respiratory problems, I'd suggest moving elsewhere.

I know how hard it is to relocate, get used to a place, and feel burdened later to choose between lifestyle and breathing well.

Please do read the article/link below if you haven't already because truly I suffered from the air only 35 miles outside of Palm Springs. Later I got winded hiking in Palm Springs, which when the air is clean, rarely happens.

Air pollution detective

Your concern about Palm Springs air quality is warranted. In my opinion.

Best wishes,

Donna

Do You Have A Question About Clean or Dirty Air?

To keep smiling, do you have a question about clean and dirty air?

I'm starting an Ask Donna column and before I publish I'd like a few good questions.

Sure, I can pull from Chasing Clean Air, but where's the fun. So I thought I'd put the question to you first for something new.

Questions might range from what to look out for when traveling to typically well-known clean air areas, especially if you have breathing issues. Or what to look out for when buying a vacuum. So many spew dust.

Ask Donna: How To Cope Living In Smog-City

Hi Donna, 
 
I have lived in Los Angeles for nine years and just recently, after being away for two months and coming back, became aware of the extent to which I'm affected by LA's dirty air. 
 
I found your blog and am grateful to you for writing on this subject. 
 
I'm wondering if you could help me with a couple questions you might know the answers to? 
 
One is, are there any areas of LA that have cleaner air than other areas? 
 
And the other is, are there any products/machines you recommend for purifying air in a home or in a room? 
 
Thank you again for your blog, and thanks in advance if you can answer either or both of my questions. 
 
Best wishes, 
Andrew Schwartz 
 

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for reaching out.

Yes, some areas of L.A. are better than others. The degree though may not be significant, keeping in mind Los Angeles is the most polluted city in America. This is due to our car culture, the ports that "encourage" thousands of diesel trucks to pollute our freeways and air daily, our geography--a basin where air gets cooked by the sun thereby making toxins in the air more lethal.  And did I mention the ships off-shore that spew the worst pollutants?