Ask Donna: Woman with Multiple Chemical Sensitivies Needs to Know Where It's Safe To Go?

Dear Donna:

Thanks for your website!

I am trying to find the best place to live for good air quality/ ozone, particulate/pesticides -possibly other criteria I don't know about. I can move anywhere.

I suffer with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. I have lived in Santa Monica for almost 7 years and feel I am swimming against the tide here.

I have found a number of sites that have the best clean air cities, but they seem to only include criteria based on particulate and ozone, not pesticides.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I am at the beginning of the process of finding the best place for me to move to and your input will be most appreciated.

Can't figure out how to use you sight to find. Suggestions/instructions?

Thanks,

Lori

To read my answer, continue below...

Dear Lori,

I have a search box upper right panel, and you type a location, or concern such as pesticides, air polllution, etc, and links to what I've written will appear.

Check out my Clean Air Getaways and Environmental Pollution and Your Health categories directly above.

I also write the web site, The Clean Air Guide, where I track and list health impacts of air pollution studies under Smog & Your Health.

To date, I've focused on the Southwest, West, Hawaii, PNW and BC. But I'm familiar with much more. If you send your #, I'll listen to your needs and see if a suggestion pops. I don't always have time to do this but I really understand how frustrating it can be to reach out to experts who are limited to only a few potential air pollution sources.

Case in point, I turned to American Lung Association and learned Monterey had some of the cleanest California air and when I traveled there in 2007, no one warned me about the aerial pesticide spraying for the Light Brown Apple Moth that made many people, including me, feel sick. That's when pesticides was added to my air pollution culprits list. Hawaii, I learned about vog.

And while clean air is important so too is being with people that you feel comfortable, so we can review communities based on your unique criteria and make-up.

Thanks for writing.

Best wishes,

Donna

I spoke to Lori who believes she suffers from pesticides sprayed around her Santa Monica building, as well as particulates blowing up from PCH.

While she's building up her immune system, based on her individual needs, if she were to move, I suggested looking at parts of Marin County and Morro Bay but with caveats.

Wherever we go, know that winds tend to blow east, neighbors change and may or may not be considerate, (lots of wood-burning complaints from Northern California and Oregon).

Pollens are unique to areas and possibly our immune system.

Occasionally, there's a major energy or production plant that dumps. So see who's upwind and upstream so you're not the toxic recipient below.

Outside of America, I love Vancouver Island for clean air. I haven't been to Australia, New Zealand, or Tasmania but these are considerations for the adventurous clean air seeker in need of a vacation or home. (Citizenship is a whole new issue, which I've explored for Canada and wish wish wish I could have North American citizenship).

Last photo is Hornby Island off Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

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