Were you concerned about air pollution before the fires?

Los Angeles consistently ranks as having the worst air quality in the United States. Compared to other cities, well, there really isn’t much of a comparison. We have the highest levels of ozone pollution and significant PM2.5 pollutants, largely from cars, all of which are incredibly harmful to long-term respiratory health. What’s interesting is that while the recent wildfires are certainly bad for air quality, the day-to-day pollution we experience in LA is arguably more detrimental over the long term.

What surprises me is the number of Angelenos suddenly concerned about air quality because of the fires. I get that the smoke brings the issue into focus, but did it occur to anyone that even before the fires, you were living in a city with air pollution levels that can shorten your life? I don’t mean to sound harsh, but I’m genuinely curious. Did the fires make you suddenly aware of the fact that air pollution is harmful? Were you not concerned before?

The thing about pollution is that you can’t always see it. The fires make it visually obvious, but there are plenty of days when the air looks clear, yet pollution levels are still high. And it’s not just outdoor air. Indoor pollutants can be just as harmful. So while it’s great that people are concerned now, I find it perplexing that so many are suddenly alarmed about walking their dogs or going outside when, frankly, there have been many days in the past year where the air quality was similarly bad, and yet life went on without much thought to it.

ETA: there were 107 Unhealthy/ Hazardous Air Days in 2024. Did you avoid walking your dog 107 days last year?