One interesting fact of blogging is I can frequently see what people plug into Google/Yahoo/Ask searches when seeking information on clean and dirty air.
"Riverside and brain cancer" someone wrote on Google's search engine, and Chasing Clean Air popped up on their computer screen. Their search words showed up on mine, which made me wonder about brain tumors and air pollution.
I have a beautiful girlfriend who has spunk and vivaciousness, and a smile to knock you over. What she doesn't have is a brain tumor because it was removed a few years ago. She is under close watch. She lives next to the 10 and 405 freeways.
I did a google search and learned that the South Coast Air Management District, AQMD, is sponsoring a study that initially linked particulate matter (diesel from trucks, ships, etc.) with changes to brain genes, one of which is associated with producing a growth factor, which could be related to cancer.
Keith Black of The Brain Tumor Foundation at Cedars-Sinai and the UC Irvine Air Pollution Health Effects Lab are studying these initial findings further.
Well, when I look at these Los Angeles smog pictures, common sense dictates if one can afford to leave L.A. it would be better for one's health and longevity.
We know air pollution kills. I wonder if money would be better spent on new technologies and educating people on better behaviors that will minimize pollution rather than millions of dollars going to studies. I hear in order to pass laws/initiatives, legislators need "facts" from reputable studies even though any two-year-old could cough and tell you breathing diesel just doesn't cut it.
