California Wheezin’
There are things we Southern Californians expect during the summer months. One of these things is warm weather. Normal summer temperatures are in the mid-70s to mid-80s along the coast, mid-80s to mid-90s inland, and in the desert communities, temperatures over 100 F are disturbingly common. Another truth of our existence is the fact that we are a tourist mecca. Summer traffic is heavier, and most locals avoid places like Disneyland as if our lives depended on it.
Another feature of the Southern California summer is smog. While hardly unique to Southern California, the orange-brown haze of nitrogen oxides and carbonous particulate matter is inescapable here. From mid-July through August, a chemical cocktail hangs in the air waiting patiently to begin its slow burn of unsuspecting mucous membranes and respiratory tissues. Last Friday, Southern California was under a Stage 1 smog alert for the first time since 1998. A Stage 1 Alert is the second worst of five air quality levels determined by a Pollution Standard Index (PSI) score.
Good - Very low PSI. A great day to run a marathon.
Moderate - Decent air quality for healthy persons. But those with emphysema should not run marathons on a “moderate” day. Otherwise, think of a “moderate” day as a suntan for your lungs!
Unhealthful - Unfortunately, this is a standard level for most inland communities during the summer here. Often a Health Advisory will be issued on an “unhealthful” day. But no one really takes it seriously. After all, how can you trust air you can’t see?
Very Unhealthful - Also known as a Stage 1 Alert. A Stage 1 day is a bad day for a marathon. Also bad for ditch digging, power walking, helping friends move, or eXtreme gardening.
Hazardous - Also known as the Stage 2 Alert. Don’t even go outside. The air is packed to saturation with solid waste. You’re extremely likely to inhale a turd if go outside without some system of alternative oxygen delivery on a Stage 2 day.
Well, that was my best smog joke, so I think I’ll just stop here. Anyway, if you visit L.A. this summer, and you plan on breathing, consider yourself warned.
Bye for now.
July 14th, 2003 at 1:54 am
Having grown up in Orange County instead of LA my view is a tad skewed. We dont often have severe smog - I think we voted on installing fans at the Orange Wall a decade or so ago, now we just blow smog back into LA, where it belongs.
I can remember as a kid during P.E. that kids would actually pass out. Doing exercise in socal 15 years ago = pain.
Luckily someone realized that Orange County has lots of money. Now we use some of that money to deal with all kinds of problems. Like, paying the police to keep watch on the Orange Wall(the dividing line between OC and LA) to keep ‘unwanted’ specimens from entering the county. It’s quite effective, poor people generally stay in LA, except for Santa Ana. I mean, someone has to mow the grass right?
July 15th, 2003 at 7:27 pm
I consider myself warned and will attempt to find another way of oxygenating my blood when and if I ever come to California in the summer