By Mihray Sharip, Environmental Health Specialist, Environmental Health & Safety
California is one of the most polluted states in the United States. A study conducted in 2008 at California State University, Fullerton CA, found that air pollution in California is claiming more lives than car accidents. The shape of California’s land and its warm, sunny climate are perfect for forming and trapping air pollutants. Most cities in California are built on plains or in valleys surrounded by mountains. These areas are natural bowls that trap air pollution and prevent the air from circulating. On some days temperature inversions, where the air closer to the ground becomes cooler than the air above, act as lids which trap air pollutants close to the ground. This prevents vertical mixing, where the cleaner air above mixes with the polluted air below, and the dispersion of pollutants. On hot, sunny days, pollutants emitted by vehicles, industry, and many products react with each other to form ozone, the main ingredient of smog. During the winter, temperature inversions can trap tiny particles of smoke and exhaust from cars, trucks, fireplaces, and anything else that burns fuel. This keeps the pollution close to the ground – right where people are breathing.
Sources of air pollution in California include: gasoline and diesel-powered motor vehicles, factories, power plants, fireplaces, refineries, gasoline storage and dispensing facilities, businesses that use solvents and paint, household and commercial consumer products such as hairsprays, automotive cleaning products, and aerosol paints that contain smog-forming ingredients such as hydrocarbon propellants and alcohol.
The following are simple steps to reduce air pollution in California:
- Walk or ride a bike when possible, take public transportation or carpool.
- Organize and condense errands into one trip, telecommute if possible, drive less, particularly on days with unhealthy air.
- Support the Smog Check Program.
- When in the market for a new car, look for the most efficient lowest-polluting vehicle or even a zero-emission electric car.
- Turn the lights off when you leave a room, harness the power of the sun, open the blinds and turn off the lights.
- Replace energy-hungry incandescent lights with compact florescent light bulbs.
- Recycle paper, plastic, metals, and organic materials.
- Use an EPA-approved wood burning stove or fireplace insert, don’t use your wood stove or fireplace on day with unhealthy air.
- Add insulation to your home.
- When ready to replace, look for energy star appliances.
- Eat locally, shop at farmers markets and buy organic products.
- Store all solvents in airtight containers.
- Use an electric or push lawn mower.
- Use water-based cleaning products that are labeled “zero VOC’.
- Plant a Tree.
- Print and photocopy on both side of paper.
- Turn off office equipment, computers, printers, and fax machines, after hours.
Source: www.arb.ca.gov
This article originally appeared on the LLUH Environmental Health & Safety's Speaking of Safety Blog in December 2016. Environmental Health & Safety is a division of Risk Management.