California's Air Pollution History: A Troubling Timeline

California has a long history of air pollution, with the first recognised episodes of smog occurring in Los Angeles in the summer of 1943. People experienced eye and lung irritation and nausea, and visibility was reduced to just three blocks. The Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District was formed in 1947, and while it regulated power plants and oil refineries, the smog continued. It was later discovered that automobile exhaust was the main cause of smog, and in 1966, California established the nation's first tailpipe emissions standards. Despite these efforts, California continues to struggle with air pollution, with more than ninety percent of its residents living in counties with poor air quality.

The first instances of smog in California were recorded in 1943

In 1947, the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District was formed, becoming the first such body in the nation. The district began regulating obvious sources of air pollution, such as smoke-belching power plants and oil refineries. However, the smog problem persisted, and it wasn't until the early 1950s that the automobile was identified as the main culprit. During this time, Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit discovered the nature and causes of photochemical smog, specifically the reaction of sunlight with automobile exhaust and industrial air pollution.

California began to take statewide action, forming the Bureau of Air Sanitation within the California Department of Public Health. This department was responsible for establishing air quality standards and controlling motor vehicle emissions of air pollutants. In 1966, California established the nation's first tailpipe emissions standards, and the following year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was established. The Mulford-Carrell Air Resources Act, passed in 1967, allowed California to implement more stringent air quality rules due to its unique geography, weather, and growing population.

Under the provisions of the Clean Air Act, CARB has played a pivotal role in adopting, implementing, and enforcing stringent air pollution controls. They have worked closely with local governments, the business sector, and the public to address California's air quality issues. Despite these efforts, California continues to face air pollution challenges due to its ever-growing population, abundance of cars, and sunny weather. More than ninety percent of Californians reside in counties with unhealthy levels of air quality, and the state has the highest ozone levels in the nation, with Los Angeles-Long Beach, Bakersfield, and Fresno-Madera being the top three cities.

The Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District was formed in 1947

The first recognised episodes of smog in Los Angeles occurred in the summer of 1943. The phenomenon was termed a "gas attack" and blamed on a nearby butadiene plant. However, when the plant was shut down, the smog continued. To address this issue, the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District was formed in 1947, becoming the first such body in the nation.

The district began by regulating smoke-belching power plants and oil refineries, but the smog persisted. It was not until the 1950s that Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit, a bioorganic chemistry professor, discovered the true nature and causes of photochemical smog. He found that smog was caused by the reaction of sunlight with automobile exhaust and industrial air pollution. Specifically, he identified the two main constituents of automobile exhaust—airborne hydrocarbons from gasoline and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) produced by internal combustion engines—as the primary culprits.

Based on Dr. Haagen-Smit's research, California took statewide action, forming the Bureau of Air Sanitation within the California Department of Public Health. This department was tasked with establishing air quality standards and controlling motor vehicle emissions of air pollutants. In 1966, California established the nation's first tailpipe emissions standards, followed by the nation's first NOx emissions standards for motor vehicles in 1971.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB), established in 1967, has played a pivotal role in implementing aggressive air pollution control programs. Over the years, CARB has worked with the public, the business sector, and local governments to improve air quality in California. Their efforts have led to cleaner air, even as the population and the number of cars have increased. CARB has adopted and enforced nation-leading air pollution controls, such as the Advanced Clean Cars Program (2012), which reduces both conventional and greenhouse gas pollutant emissions from automobiles.

Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit discovered the causes of smog in the 1950s

The history of air pollution in California dates back to the 1940s, with the first recognised episodes of smog occurring in Los Angeles during the summer of 1943. People experienced burning eyes and lungs, and nausea, with visibility reduced to just three blocks. While the phenomenon was initially blamed on a nearby butadiene plant, the smog continued even after the plant was shut down.

In the postwar years, Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit, a Dutch-born chemist and biochemist, emerged as a pivotal figure in the fight against air pollution in California. He is renowned for his groundbreaking research in the 1950s, which unravelled the nature and causes of smog. Haagen-Smit's work built upon his expertise in plant-derived chemicals, particularly hormones and natural substances.

At the California Institute of Technology, where he was a professor, Haagen-Smit utilised laboratory techniques to discover the chemical reactions behind smog formation. He found that the objectionable constituents of smog were created by the oxidation of organic material in the air. Specifically, he identified that a complex reaction between hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides produced ozone, organic peroxides, and aldehydes—key components of smog.

Haagen-Smit's research also highlighted the role of sunlight in the reaction with automobile exhaust and industrial air pollution. This discovery laid the foundation for modern air pollution regulations. His work extended beyond the laboratory, as he recognised the policy implications of his findings. Haagen-Smit understood that managing air pollution required considering not only the emissions themselves but also their behaviour and fate in the air.

Haagen-Smit's findings had a significant impact on California's approach to air quality management. The state formed a Bureau of Air Sanitation and established air quality standards, taking aim at motor vehicle emissions. California's pioneering efforts culminated in the nation's first tailpipe emissions standards in 1966 and the establishment of the California Air Resources Board in 1967.

For his contributions, Haagen-Smit is often regarded as the "father" of air pollution control. He was recognised with numerous awards, including the Smithsonian Medal, the Alice Tyler Ecology Prize, and the Rhineland Award for Western Europe.

California set the nation's first tailpipe emissions standards in 1966

California has long struggled with air pollution. The first recognised episodes of 'smog' occurred in Los Angeles in 1943, causing burning eyes and lungs, and nausea. The Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District, the first such body in the nation, was formed in 1947. Despite regulating smoke-belching power plants and oil refineries, the smog persisted. It was not until the early 1950s that the automobile was identified as the primary cause of smog.

In the 1960s, California took action at the state level, forming a Bureau of Air Sanitation within the California Department of Public Health, which was tasked with establishing air quality standards and controlling motor vehicle emissions of air pollutants.

In 1966, California established the nation's first tailpipe emissions standards, aiming to reduce hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide pollution from new motor vehicles by up to 80%. The following year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was established. In 1969, the federal Clean Air Act recognised California's earlier efforts and authorised the state to set its own vehicle emissions regulations, stricter than federal standards, to address the state's unique circumstances.

California's leadership in air quality research and regulation has continued. In the decades since, CARB has implemented a wide array of nation-leading air pollution controls, including the nation's first NOx emissions standards for motor vehicles in 1971, zero-emission vehicle regulations in 1990, and the first greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars in 2004. California's aggressive air pollution control programs have led to continued improvements in air quality, even as the population and number of cars have increased.

The California Air Resources Board was established in 1967

Air pollution has been a problem in California since at least the summer of 1943, when the first recognised episodes of 'smog' occurred in Los Angeles. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) was established in 1967 to address this issue.

The creation of CARB was the result of the unification of statewide efforts to combat severe air pollution. Governor Ronald Reagan approved the Mulford-Carrell Air Resources Act, which led to the formation of CARB as a merger of the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the California Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board. This move committed California to a unified approach to tackling air pollution, recognising the state's unique geography, weather, and growing population and number of vehicles.

Prior to the establishment of CARB, California had already taken steps to address air pollution. In 1947, the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District was formed, marking the first such body in the nation. However, it was not until the early 1950s that the automobile was identified as the main contributor to smog. Dr Arie Haagen-Smit discovered the nature and causes of photochemical smog, attributing it to airborne hydrocarbons from gasoline and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) produced by internal combustion engines.

Following these discoveries, California established the nation's first tailpipe emissions standards in 1966, a year before CARB's formation. Once established, CARB continued this momentum, adopting the nation's first NOx emissions standards for motor vehicles just four years later. This led to the development of the catalytic converter, a significant innovation in reducing smog-forming emissions from cars.

Since its inception, CARB has played a pivotal role in monitoring and reducing air pollution in California. Working with the public, businesses, and local governments, CARB has implemented innovative vehicle emission control strategies. These strategies have led to cleaner air and significant improvements in public health, including reduced hospital stays and fewer missed days from school and work due to respiratory and cardiopulmonary diseases.

Frequently asked questions