What's the point? Read on
A reader asked a seminal question about our blogging on air quality. Thank you.
I was wondering when someone would get around to asking: What's the point?
The discussion of air quality was in the background during the 1980s and 1990s in the San Joaquin Valley. In fact, it was a conversation stopper, a politically incorrect dud in many circles.
In June 1993, I wrote a story in which people argued long and loud against voluntarily cutting back on fireplace burning. The headline: Wood-burning rules go on back burner.
It was years before people learned what science was slowly revealing. That PM-2.5, the fine particles coming from soot and other chemicals, was deadly to some people and damaging to everyone else.
According to the latest studies, thousands of Valley residents have died before their time because of poor air quality over the last 15 years. These tiny particles are among the biggest villains.
And that's the point: We all breathe the air, and air pollution kills more people in most California counties than car accidents.
Comments:
And a good point it is! If wood smoke is making so many people sick, while slowly killing others, why is it so hard to see that it must be stopped. Not regulated, Stopped, period.
There is, undoubtedly, something wrong with those that can douse their neighbors with smoke and not care. They must be some of the most selfish people on this earth. Or, they may have mental issues that they need to deal with.
And, don't give me the old 'it's cheaper to heat with wood' story. It no longer flies! That is unless they are burning things they shouldn't, as a lot of them do.
Everyone must fight to get a ban in place before more people are sick and more environmental damage is caused.
Posted by: Shirley at December 11, 2008 6:34 PM
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