freeway pollution travels farther than we thought. here’s how to protect yourself - air cleaner filter

If anyone knows where the shelter for air pollution near the Los Angeles highway is, it's Suzanne Paulson.
University of California, Los Angeles professor of atmospheric chemistry spent several years studying the invisible dirty air emitted by carsand truck-
The blocked roads spread to the surrounding communities
Increase the risk of cancer, asthma, heart disease and other diseases among residents.
So when she bought a house near Santa Monica Sunset Park in 2007, she made sure it was on a quiet street off Highway 10 --
Far more than 500-
California's air quality regulator says it is unhealthy to put homes, schools and daycare centers there.
But not far enough.
It turns out that in the late night and early morning, traffic pollution drifted further than during the day and could extend more than a mile from the highway downwind.
This finding by Paulson and her colleagues is an example of a new study that reveals that your exposure to harmful vehicle pollution levels is affected by your particular environment.
Not only is this the distance you are from the traffic, but there are other details such as the wind pattern, the highway design, the time of day and the type of car, truck and building that determines the risk.
"We learned that the pollution you breathe depends on where you are, when you are there, and what the traffic looks like," Paulson said . ".
These findings have prompted air quality officials and scientists to come up with new suggestions on the measures you can take to protect yourself.
Southern California is experiencing a surge in home construction near the highway, which has allowed more people to enter the highwayContaminated areas.
But health experts say just because state and local officials allow new homes there doesn't mean it's safe.
When choosing a home, school or daycare, try to choose a location far from the highway.
Avoid sites within 500 feet-
California's air quality regulator has warned
1,000 feet even.
This is where traffic pollution is highest, asthma, cancer, heart disease, stroke, reduced lung function, pre-
Regular birth and other health problems are increasing.
See how far you are from the nearest highway and also avoid living near the main road
People carrying more than 100,000 cars a day
According to the air quality regulator, this can pose health risks similar to highways.
It includes some of the busiest Boulevard in Los Angeles, such as Sepulveda, lacinega and Wilshire.
If you have central heating, air-
Air conditioning or ventilation system, high installation
Efficient air filter.
They should be rated 13 or higher on 16-
MERV scale (
Minimum Efficiency Report value)
This can measure how they can effectively stop tiny contaminated particles.
Make sure to change it on time about every few months.
But the filter only removes some harmful components from traffic pollution.
They only work when the air flows and all doors and windows are closed.
Most do not remove toxic waste gases such as benzene and 1, 3-butadiene.
To filter out these, you need a more expensive charcoal filter.
The age of your building is also a factor.
The filter is less effective in the old residence, the old residence will emit more pollutants, and the effect is better in the new residence that closes more external air.
If you live in a new home near the Los Angeles or San Francisco highway, high
Efficiency filters may already be required.
The California Energy Council will require MERV 13 air filtration in all new homes from 2020.
However, these rules do not have any effect on reducing the pollution of existing families, including those who are more than 1.
2 million people in Southern California already live within 500 feet of the highway.
No central air conditioning?
Add a bracket or two-alone air-
As long as 24/7 of the operation is maintained, cleaning the equipment at home can help reduce the level of particle pollution.
But the air purifier is only in one room, not effectively lowering particle levels throughout the home.
Make sure that the model you choose is certified by the California regulator.
If you can't avoid living near the highway, some places offer more protection than others.
It is better to live behind a soundproof wall, especially behind a wall with dense trees and plants on it.
Although this obstacle is not designed to prevent vehicle emissions, it can reduce pollution levels immediately when downwind.
It is also better to live near the highway above or far below your home.
Vertical separation helps to disperse contaminants. At-
The lanes of the grade highway are at the same level as the buildings around them, but the situation is worse because they place the tailpipe of the car next to the lungs of the person.
If you live on a major boulevard, you'll be better off when there are buildings, parks and other open spaces of different heights that allow waste gas pollutants to disperse and stay away from traffic, state regulators said.
Avoid "street canyon" because there are a large number of high-rise buildings, which may cause pollution.
Postpone outdoor sports until later in the morning to avoid the peak of traffic pollution in the early dayssunrise hours.
This is due to stagnant weather conditions caused by night cooling, causing highway pollution to stay near the ground.
This slows the spread of emissions, allowing them to drift more than a mile in the downwind direction, while not more than 1,000 feet miles during the day.
With the help of a large amount of jet exhaust during morning rush hours, the content of super particles, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons is the highest in the morning.
Once the sun rises for a few hours, the wind starts to rise again, and these conditions usually break.
It is best to keep the windows closed in the early morning.
You may think it is safer to keep them open after night traffic jams, but recent research has shown that the opposite is true.
Spending time on a car on a highway will make you face levels of pollution five to ten times higher than in the surrounding area.
Even if the window is open, if the ventilation system of your vehicle sucks in the outdoor air, you may breathe up to 80% of traffic pollution.
So if you can, live closer to work, use public transport or take other measures to limit your driving time.
"Here we can still get a lot of exposure, especially if you're driving a long way in a hurry --
One-hour traffic, "says Scott Forlin, professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California.
"If you can reduce this, it will be very helpful.
"When you're in the car, roll up the windows and set the ventilation system to recycle.
That button can reduce pollution to 20%. road levels.
If you live near multiple sources of pollution, your health risks may increase.
Avoiding living near the intersection of highways and highway ramps, regulators and scientists have determined that these are hot spots that are twice as polluted.
Far away from the main intersections and traffic lights, where when drivers step on the accelerator, the vehicle will drain a lot of exhaust gas, and when they step on the brakes, copper dust and other toxic particles will drain a lot of exhaust gas.
"When the light goes from red to green, there is basically a large amount of fairly concentrated pollution," Fruin said . ".
It is also a factor whether you live in smog areas.
If you live near a highway in a community with a higher level of smoke, such as the Inland Empire, you may get double the dirty air from traffic emissions, in addition to regional pollution.
Living near highways and roads frequented by diesel trucks is especially unhealthy, and diesel trucks emit many times more harmful gases and particles than cars.
Carcinogenic substances-diesel particulate matter
Dusty soot piled deep in the lungs is the main cause of cancer risk caused by air pollution in California, with more than 1,000 people dying of cancer each year.
People who live near ports, warehouse distribution centers and other freight corridors are most concerned about experts.
The incidence of asthma and the risk of cancer can be so high that doctors mark it as "diesel death zone ". ”An air-
Surveillance station next to the truck
The highest level of fines for congested sections of 60 highways in Ontario
All nearby particulate contamination or soot
According to data from the United States in 2015, road sites in the United StatesS.
Data from the Environmental Protection Agency
In 2015, about 217,000 cars passed each day, more than 29,000 of which were trucks.
Crossing all kinds of vehicles near you will have a great impact on the pollution of your breath.
Paulson and other scientists have discovered the big difference between Los Angeles. A.
The community, in some affluent enclave like West Los Angeles, has the lowest levels of traffic pollution, where there are more new cars on the roads, cleaner engines and fewer trucks.
The level of ultra-fine particles, tiny, short
The charged particles measured by scientists are an indicator of the recent emissions, several times higher than near the east side of the Boyle Heights, in addition to being divided up by the intersection of highways, and more diesel trucks and older, higher-
There are polluted cars on the street on the surface.
Black Road dust stored on Windows, shelves and terraces of people close to traffic?
If it is large enough to be seen, it may enter your mouth or nose and it will not go further than that.
Fruin, a professor at the University of Southern California, says clean it up, especially if it's dark or dark.
"It's a bad sign if you put your finger on the windowsill and it's black, because that means you'll get a lot of diesel soot.
"More importantly, Soot may be a sign of traffic pollution that you can't see but may be breathing.
Scientists are particularly concerned that less than 1-
The width of a person's hair.
They are small and can go deep into the lungs and into the blood and can hurt the heart, brain and other organs.
Superparticles are suspected to cause some diseases in people near traffic, but more research is needed to determine.
Cars and trucks are getting cleaner and cleaner, but don't expect electric cars to end traffic --
Related health issues
Switch to zero
Discharge vehicles only remove tail tubes-
Pollution generated
It does not reduce non-
Exhaust contaminants, including dust on brake pads and tires, contain toxic metals, rubber and other compounds that are kicked into the air.
Scientists trying to determine the most harmful factors in traffic pollution have just begun to study these
Tail pipe pollutants
"Turning to electric vehicles will certainly reduce public contact with the engine --
Related emissions, "said Ed Avol, professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California.
"However, another contamination from the friction of tires, brakes and lubricants may remain in some form in the coming years.
"Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this.
Just 99 cents for the first four weeks to fully access our signature News.
Is it already a subscriber?
Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. tony. Balvasa @ latimes.
Jon Schleuss, a staff writer at ComTimes, contributed to the report.