Chasing Clean Air

West Nile Virus Cases Rise in Los Angeles County

West Nile Virus (WNV) is on the rise, climate change blowing at its back as mosquito-carrying virus peddlers grow exponentially in our neighborhoods. Los Angeles County had the most new reported human cases of the disease this week--13--out of the 17 human cases in California. Los Angeles is second to Sacramento, which leads in WNV overall cases. There have been 3,146 human cases and 110 deaths in California since 2003.

To help prevent spread of the disease we're supposed to clean up (or report to Vector Control) stagnant water. Wear bug spray or bug-resistent clothing around dusk and dawn when mosquitos are more plentiful, and report dead squirrels and birds to Vector Control, for they are often the first sign of a WNV problem. 1-877-968-2473.

PBS Nature: An Original DUCKumentary

Ready to forget the election, and enjoy levity? I just watched an absorbing PBS Nature presentation (the DVD), An Original DUCKumentary, which premieres this Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012. I love seeing beautiful Wood Ducks, Buffleheads, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Pintails, Goldeneyes and Ruddies. There. You're ready for Jeapordy's Duck category.

Ducks are well-equipped for their often harsh surroundings. The film starts with ducklings falling from their North American nest and bouncing softly onto leaves. We learn about their evolution, and follow different species in beautiful North and South American habitats.

To escape our contentious world, enjoy the colorful world of courageous ducks. After the broadcast, An Original DUCKumentary will stream free at pbs.org/nature.

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Tis the Season: To Burn. Not To Burn. Safely Burn.

Fires in the hearth. Ahh the days! Having a glass of wine, warm embers glowing orange in the fireplace, a romantic wood smoke tradition for some and a necessity to stay warm for others. The smoke wafting into the sky, though, a familiar smell harkening back to childhood especially to those living in the cold (Los Angeles about to be hit with another heat wave) is a bain for those with asthma and cardiovascular disease.

Fine particulates PM2.5 is a health threat. So here's the deal. In Orange County, and major portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, our air quality district, South Coast Air Quality Managment District, will levy fines starting at $50 for a first time offender if you burn during a NO BURN ALERT, going up to $500 for a third time offense.

So know before you burn, for you play an important role in keeping our skies clean.

Check Before You Burn & No Burn Alerts in Your Area

• Sign up for email notices to learn when No Burn Alerts are happening or plug in your zip code here to learn if your area is under a No Burn Alert.

• Call AQMD’s 24-hour Check Before You Burn toll-free line at (866) 966-3293. Ready to be a watch-dog? Good. Talk to your neighbors and if they don't stop burning on a no-burn day, report violations at 1-800-Cut-Smog.

• AQMD is offering financial incentives to "upgrade" your fireplace to cleaner gas logs in their Gas Log Incentive Program. Click here for more information.

Why I Like Vermont Soap

Because I support companies striving toward 100% organic ingredients, and I needed a yoga mat cleaner, don't we all?, enter Vermont Soap's Yoga Mat Wash. Spray 3 x onto wet cloth and lightly scrub. In addition to all or mostly organic ingredients in Vermont's products, they use no petroleum. I like that.