Southern California deemed most polluted

[one...two...tree 2,762]

NOAKI SCHWARTZ, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles can continue being the butt of smog jokes now that it has once again topped the American Lung Association's bad air list of most polluted cities in America.

The association found that the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside metropolitan area had the worst air based on 2003 through 2005 figures.

The Pittsburgh area was ranked as the nation's second most polluted metropolitan area followed by Bakersfield, Calif., Birmingham, Ala., Detroit and Cleveland. Visalia, Calif., Cincinnati, Indianapolis and St. Louis rounded out the top 10.

The news wasn't all bad for Los Angeles. Despite the dubious distinction, the number of days residents breathed the nation's worst ozone levels was fewer than in previous years.

"Nobody is surprised that LA has an air pollution problem," said Janice Nolen, the association's assistant vice president for national policy and advocacy. "The problems there are one of the reasons we have the Clean Air Act. But it is important for folks to know that there has been some improvement."

The organization based the rankings on ozone pollution levels produced when heat and sunlight come into contact with pollutants from power plants, cars, refineries and other sources. The group also studied particle pollution levels emitted from these sources, which are made up of a mix of tiny solid and liquid particles in the air.

Such pollution can contribute to heart disease, lung cancer and asthma attacks, the association said. Those especially vulnerable to polluted air are children, senior citizens, people who work or exercise outdoors and people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Nearly half of the U.S. population lives in counties that still have unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, even though there appeared to be less ozone in many counties than previous years, the study found.

[homesick_american 1]

So much for Pittsburgh being the country's most liveable city.

Nice to see Houston's not in the top 5 anymore.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I prefer to live around Foster's city, or San Mateo. Beautiful!

[Jasman0717 9]

I'm glad they didn't mention Orange County

[Ban Hammer 14,455]

NOAKI SCHWARTZ, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles can continue being the butt of smog jokes now that it has once again topped the American Lung Association's bad air list of most polluted cities in America.

must be from all that weed

[Nagishkaw 510]

and all those INDIAN reservations.

[eric&gen 0]

I am happy to say that i don't live in LOS ANGELES smog central. lol

[Scott & Lai 12]

and all those INDIAN reservations.

There are Indian reservations in Los Angeles?

[Nagishkaw 510]

No, it was a joke from the Meth thread .

[Scott & Lai 12]

No, it was a joke from the Meth thread .

Oh...ok; I was sure I would have noticed a reservation after living in this area for 41+ years

[Nagishkaw 510]

I know what you mean. When I read that in the meth thread I was like, give me a freakin break !

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Interesting how the part of the country that produces the most whiny nasal hippie environmentalists...........is also the most polluted.

Hippy, heal thyself?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Interesting how the part of the country that produces the most whiny nasal hippie environmentalists...........is also the most polluted.

Hippy, heal thyself?

You have to separate the real environmentalists from the ones that like to be one because they're friends are.

Believe it or not, Southern California (LA area) is ripe with neo-cons. Anybody here remember B1 Bob Dornan?

[sereia 0]

gupt's obviously never been to south oc before, steven. lol

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Interesting how the part of the country that produces the most whiny nasal hippie environmentalists...........is also the most polluted.

Hippy, heal thyself?

So ironic. Sort of like the whole Al Gore is an environmentalism spokesman.