By Benjamin Minch, Staff Writer
Air quality is extremely important for long-term health, and it is of no surprise that we live in a world that is constantly being polluted by chemicals and particulate matter. In Fountain Valley, we are lucky enough to enjoy an air quality that is decent or good throughout the entire year, but, for some cities, this is not the case.
Fountain Valley has moderate air quality, but it isn’t anywhere near the top, mainly due to particulate matter 2.5 in the air. This is most likely a direct link to the amount of car traffic in the area, as the 405 freeway runs right through the city. According to data from the LA times, about 370,000 cars pass through the 405 freeway in a single day.
Our air also has an average amount of ozone because we are so close to the ocean. This by itself isn’t a major problem, but, combined with all of the cars, it causes the air quality in Fountain Valley to be sub-par.
Here is a list of the ten most polluted cities in California.
- ghostsVisalia-Porterville-Hanford, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Fresno-Madera, CA
- San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA
- Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
- Modesto-Merced, CA
- El Centro, CA
- Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV
- Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH
- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles- Arroyo Grande, CA
This list may come as a surprise because many would expect Los Angeles to be the most polluted city. Point source pollution however, is only one factor contributing to air quality. Topography is also a very important factor and one of the reason places such as Fresno and Bakersfield are so high on the list. The cities themselves don’t generate much pollution, but the little that they do generate gets trapped in the city because of the tall mountains surrounding. In a city such as Los Angeles, this pollution usually will just rise and disperse because that is what hot air does. Mountains and valleys prevent this natural flow and can be responsible for decreased air quality.
California is home to 8 of the 10 cities in America where air pollution is the worst because of its topography, but this doesn’t mean that every city is terrible. Here are some of the cities with the best air quality in Southern California:
- Lucerne Valley, CA
- La Mirada, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- Temecula, CA
One of the most surprising things is how Fountain Valley is located between Long beach and Anaheim, two opposites on the spectrum. Air pollution is affected heavily by wind patterns however, and the majority of pollution coming from Long Beach never makes it down to Fountain Valley or Anaheim because it blows northeast in a pattern called the Westerlies.
The main things that pollute the air in California are Particulate matter 2.5, which is extremely fine and passes through hairs into your lungs, Particulate matter 10, slightly larger particles and ozone. Ozone is a particularly harmful substance because it causes increased elasticity in your lungs which can cause future degradation. To test the effect, try stretching a 2 year old rubber band.
These pollutants are often the byproduct of incomplete combustion. Car engines are oftentimes faulty and won’t burn all of the gasoline, releasing particulate matter and other oxides in the air. Ozone is a secondary pollutant and doesn’t directly come from cars but is the result from oxygen mixing with NO2 which comes from cars.
Air pollution could be devastating to your health, so it is an important factor to take in consideration when choosing where to live even though most people don’t take it into account. According to a recent study from ScientificAmerican, air pollution is linked to significant decrease in life expectancy.
There are many steps you can take to help better the air quality in Fountain Valley which include:
- Riding your bicycle or walk to school. This is personally what I do (mainly because I didn’t get a parking pass), and I’ve found it reduces my carbon footprint significantly.
- Using low-emission vehicles such as a Nissan Leaf or Tesla.
- Conserve energy. You may not know it, but coal is burned to create electricity for our households. Reducing energy will reduce coal usage and make cleaner air.
- Don’t burn your own trash. Incineration of trash is one of the main contributor to pollution in developing countries such as India and parts of Africa. We have a great developed system here in Fountain Valley so use it (this is also illegal, so report anyone who does burn trash).
Following these steps will help to clean up our air quality in light of possible freeway expansions and urban infill. Help keep Fountain Valley clean and a nice place to live.
