Air Pollution In San Joaquin Valley

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Introduction
Central California has a unique geography that helps contribute to the poor air quality. I will present information from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution District and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to provide details on the high levels of pollutants in the Central Valley and possible causes. After which, I will discuss ways I, and others, can improve the air around us and protect our health.
Geography
The San Joaquin valley in central California is “bowl”. On both its eastern and western sides are mountain ranges. Because of this, winter fog and summer haze tend to linger and hover over the valley because it gets trapped, unable to roll out to the sea. This means that pollutants also linger. …show more content…

That means the air pollutants of concern are 20-30 time smaller than a strand of hair. These particulates come from a variety of sources but many of them are related to agriculture, with 19% tied directly to farming operations and another 19% to ag waste burning. (San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, 2015). The other source of concern is ozone. Ozone contributes to smog, a common occurrence in the valley as it is the result of a reaction between NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) and VOC (volatile organic compounds) in sunlight. Again, the biggest contributor is farming. For NOx, 43% is attributed to heavy-duty diesel trucks and 11% for farm equipment. 33% of VOC emission are also a result of farming operations. (Air quality guide for particle pollution, …show more content…

If I had the resources, I would trade my 2008 Honda in for a new hybrid. The hybrids use a combination of gas and electric to run the car. One of the features I find most attractive is the battery recharges while idling and doesn’t require the special charging station of a fully electric car. And while it isn’t a way to improve the quality, I support taking crucial steps to protect our health and those around us in this unhealthy climate. Local schools have recess policies. When the Quality Index reaches any condition beyond “good”, a health plan kicks in. Recess time is moved indoors or outside activity curtailed. In the higher danger zones, outdoor activities are eliminated altogether, with sporting events canceled or rescheduled. (Air quality - Clovis unified school district, 2015). The City of Fresno sets up cooling centers to allow residence to go indoors in a cool environment to keep at-risk groups from risking heat related illnesses as they attempt to stay indoors in areas without air conditioning or the financial means to pay high electric

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