I’m beginning to wonder if air pollution causes serious brain damage or enacts a sort of soma-like effect that’s making Californians think the air’s just great while simultaneously wheezing from air pollution-related asthma.
Not too long ago, the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air Report gave L.A. an F. Now, a poll by Public Policy Institute of California found that less than a quarter of Californians see air pollution as a major problem, despite the fact that more than a third of Californians either suffer from, or have immediate family members suffering from, asthma or other respiratory problems:
About half the state, including major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, exceeds the health standard for fine particulates, which are linked to cancer, heart disease and other ailments.
Along with the drop in people’s perception of pollution, we’re seeing a drop in people’s willingness to address enviro-concerns. “Two-thirds of Californians still support the state’s comprehensive global warming law, the first in the nation, but that’s significantly less than the 78% who endorsed it in 2007.”
In response to the poll results, the California League of Conservation Voters released its own statement reminding people that addressing enviro-concerns doesn’t mean hurting the economy: “Over the last 35 years, California’s energy efficiency laws have saved families $56 billion in savings and created 1.5 million jobs with a payroll of $45 billion. A strong economy and slowing climate change are compatible goals.”
In somewhat happier related news: We may soon see new financial incentives from the federal government for making homes energy efficient.
Photo by Ben Amstutz
This is a topic that really confuses me as well. I can’t believe people suffer so many problems and don’t seriously think about how things ended up that way and what needs to be done to stop it. Some people I’ve talked to push it aside saying “oh, it was so much worse in the past”. That doesn’t make it not disgusting now when you can see a distinct yellow/brown layer in the skyline have problems breathing or one of the many other ailments that come from breathing the air!
How do you make someone care about their health and the health of those around them? Then again, maybe this is something that needs to come more from the government or else the large sources of the issues can never be addressed.
Comment by M — August 4, 2009 @ 6:17 am
It’s odd, because we talk about how like teens think they’re invincible and will live forever, yet this sort of unrealistic denial of one’s own physical frailty and mortality still seems to accompany people who’re really old enough to know better :)
Comment by Siel — August 4, 2009 @ 5:59 pm