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Old 02-21-2008, 01:37 PM
 
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Why is the air quality in Phoenix so bad? (The reports that I've read show that it scores even worse than Los Angeles).
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Old 02-21-2008, 02:18 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phriend View Post
Why is the air quality in Phoenix so bad? (The reports that I've read show that it scores even worse than Los Angeles).
You know what? It depends on what chemical they are measuring. Seriously, depending on what they are looking for, the reading will be different. Sometimes the reading is bad, sometimes it's not.

I have been here a looooooong time and only in the past 5 years has the "brown cloud" been so visible. I actually don't think the air is really bad here, but I have known people who have had to move because the air upset their bodily functions!
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Old 02-21-2008, 02:31 PM
 
Location: Gilbert, AZ
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Why? Because Phoenix grew too fast, we're a personal car oriented city, and we're in a valley, so there's no escape. Freeway construction can't keep up with the growth rate and so we have more and more commuter parking lots on the road, contributing to pollution.
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Old 02-21-2008, 03:28 PM
 
Location: Sonoran Desert
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We get a couple violations a year max for PM-10 - the main issue we have - and an occasional ozone advisory. I don't think there has been a particulate violation this whole season, but I could be wrong. Some think it is worse than it actually is because PM is visible especially in low light angles of winter. Generally air quality readings are good to moderate almost every day. I'm not saying it is great or anything, but it is really not up there with LA at all. You obviously have not been to both places. Maybe you need to find a new source of information. Check out Maricopa County Air Quality department.
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Old 02-21-2008, 03:48 PM
 
172 posts, read 252,540 times
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here's some data from the American Lung Association

Rankings - American Lung Association site (http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=50752#graph1 - broken link)

As the tables there will show, comparing Phoenix air quality to Los Angeles is silly.
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Old 02-21-2008, 04:27 PM
 
Location: prescott az
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I heard it was bad because we are in a valley. The air gets trapped down here and can't get out !!!
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Old 02-21-2008, 05:02 PM
 
Location: Gilbert, AZ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponderosa View Post
I'm not saying it is great or anything, but it is really not up there with LA at all. You obviously have not been to both places. Maybe you need to find a new source of information. Check out Maricopa County Air Quality department.
You're right, but we'll be competing soon enough if we don't slow down our growth (or at least encourage more people to buy hybrids/electric vehicles...and respect no burn days, etc). I remember when the skies were almost always clear in the early 90s...before the real estate boom.
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Old 02-21-2008, 06:20 PM
 
52 posts, read 234,311 times
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Originally Posted by Artliquide View Post
You're right, but we'll be competing soon enough if we don't slow down our growth (or at least encourage more people to buy hybrids/electric vehicles...and respect no burn days, etc). I remember when the skies were almost always clear in the early 90s...before the real estate boom.
By no burn days you are talking about fireplace usage?
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Old 02-21-2008, 06:47 PM
 
Location: Out there somewhere...a traveling man.
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It's bad primarily because of the vehicle congestion in the AM and PM's, especially when the air is not moving.
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Old 02-21-2008, 06:47 PM
 
2,039 posts, read 6,323,051 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhxBarb View Post
I heard it was bad because we are in a valley. The air gets trapped down here and can't get out !!!
Is that sorta like "I've fallen and I can't get up!" ?? LOL
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