Air Pollution In Los Angeles Essay

Los Angeles has some of the most contaminated air in the United States. With a population of 18 million plus, the Los Angeles area is a large basin with the Pacific Ocean to the west, and several mountain ranges with high peaks to the east and south. Diesel engines, ports, motor vehicles, and industries are main sources of air pollution in Los Angeles. Frequent sunny days and low rainfall contribute to ozone formation, as well as high levels of particles and dust.

Air pollution in Los Angeles has caused concerns. In 2011, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Survey on Californians and the Environment showed that 45% of citizens in Los Angeles consider air pollution to be a “big problem”, and 47% believe that the air quality of

Environmental Protection Agency, Integrated Science Assessment for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants, 2013. EPA/600/R-10/076F.

EPA Concludes Fine Particle Pollution Poses Serious Health Threats

• Causes early death (both short-term and long-term exposure)

• Causes cardiovascular harm (e.g. heart attacks, strokes, heart disease, congestive heart failure)

• Likely to cause respiratory harm (e.g. worsened asthma, worsened COPD, inflammation)

• May cause cancer

• May cause reproductive and developmental harm

(-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter, December 2009.)

Helping the area to meet the national air quality standards and improve the health of local residents continues to be a priority for the EPA. One of EPA's highest priorities is to support the reduction of diesel emissions from ships, trucks, locomotives, and other diesel engines. In 2005, Congress authorized funding for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), a grant program, administrated by the EPA, to selectively retrofit or replace the older diesel engines most likely to impact human health. Since 2008, the DERA program has achieved impressive out outcome of improving air quality. The EPA also works with state and local partners to decrease emissions from port operations and to improve the efficient transportation of goods through the region. Both the EPA and the Port of Los Angeles are partners of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, a sweeping plan aimed at significantly reducing the health risks posed by air pollution from port-related ships, trains, trucks, terminal equipment and harbor