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Sci/362 Environmental Issues and Ethics

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Sci/362 Environmental Issues and Ethics
“EFFORTS TO REDUCE OZONE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA”
The Los Angeles Basin is a plain that lies between the Pacific Ocean and mountains to the north and east. During the summer, the sunny climate produces a layer of warm, dry air at upper elevations. Southern California counties are where almost 15 million people reside. South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is a governmental organization established in 1977 to deal with the historically poor air quality in the area surrounding Los Angeles. Air pollution injures organisms, reduces visibility, and attacks and corrodes materials such as metals, plastics, rubber, and fabrics. The respiratory tracts of animals, including humans, are particularly harmed by air pollutants, which worsen existing medical conditions such as chronic lung disease, pneumonia, and cardiovascular problems. Discussed in our paper will be several key points that will highlight very important details in regards to the efforts to reduce ozone in Southern California. Topics to be discussed are; described the historical development of the issue, the stakeholder’s involvement in the issue, and the long term effects of the problem, the responsibilities that arise from the ethical position and try to find a solution to this major problem.
Air pollution in California began just after World War II. Southern California has been known to have the worst air pollution in our nation. The worst ozone pollution in Southern California was in 2006’ in the Perris and Crestline areas, then the ozone levels exceeded the federal health standard for more than 50 days. Smoke pollution is one relevant pollutant in Southern California it is occasionally called industrial smog. The major pollutants in industrial smog are sulphur oxides, nitrates, metals, organic chemicals, soil and dust particles also known as particulate matter. The unhealthiest episodes of pollution usually happen during winter months when the burning of household fuels like oil or coal is



References: Bay Area Medication (2009), Green Pharm Coalition. Retrieved from Teleosis Institute websitehttp://www.teleosis.org/pdf/case_study_SFBAGPC.pdf Bell, E. (2011). Readying Health Services for Climate Change: A Policy Framework for Regional Development. American Journal of Public Health, 101(5), 804-813. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2010.202820 Johnson, T. (2010, February 23). Alternative views on climate change. Message posted to http://www.cfr.org/publication/14318/alternative_views_on_climate_change.html Raven, P.H., Berg, L.R., & Hassenzahl, D.H. (2010). Environment, 7th edition. United States of America: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.   South Coast (2006), Retrieved from Air Quality Management District website: http://www.aqmd.gov/Default.htm The Harvard Southern California Chronic Ozone Exposure Study: Assessing Ozone Exposure of Grade-School Age Children in Two Southern California Communities. Alison S. Geyh, Jianping Xue, Haluk Ozkaynak, and John D. Spengler

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