Why is fresno so polluted

However, as a general rule, improvements were modest, and all of these areas remained seriously polluted. For example, Bakersfield, though the only city among the worst 25 that improved to its best ever, nevertheless ranked third worst in the nation. Connect with us. Local News Stars, Stripes, and Thanks.

Veterans Day Parade Returns in Fresno. Share with friends. American Lung Association. Related Topics: air pollution fresno county. Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer. Continue Reading. You may like. Get Ready for Another Winter Surge. Now One is Shut Down. Fresno in Orange Tier. CRMC November 2. Latest Trending Videos. Local 2 hours ago. Local 16 hours ago. Healthcare 17 hours ago. AP News 18 hours ago. AP News 19 hours ago. Some of the sources include;. This also implies that a lot of funds are being directed towards treating and controlling diseases that arise from the poor condition of Fresno air quality.

Fresno County is also known for attaining the highest rate of childhood asthma in the US. This is attributed to poor air quality that attacks membranes in the nose, lungs and sinuses triggering allergies and asthma. Ozone has led to ailments such as lung inflammation, lung irritation, and exacerbation of asthma as well as other respiratory ailments.

Ozone may also lead to premature death, developmental harm, reproductive harm, wheezing and coughing, and susceptibility to infections. The fine particulate matter such as dust and smoke can easily go in and lodge within the lungs.

This has led to asthma, cardiac problems, chronic bronchitis and premature deaths. If no measures are taken to mitigate the emission of harmful gases in California Central Valley, we should expect more health hazards, more deaths, and Fresno would be a county that is totally unsafe to live in. Use the Fresno air quality map to monitor air quality and air pollution levels in numerous areas around the city of Fresno and Fresno County.

Hyperlocal air pollution levels may vary significantly across the city, especially in areas near farming hubs or highways during peak traffic hours. Particulate pollution, such as PM2. Ozone is also often an issue due to the high heat and high levels of particle and gas pollutants that react with sunlight to create ozone, especially during its hot California summers. Nearly 1. Emissions from passenger vehicles, trucks, and gas-powered farming equipment result in very high concentration of nitrogen dioxide NO 2 and Nox pollution in Fresno.

NO 2 is a common pollutant that reacts with sunlight to form ozone, A high concentration of NO 2 makes ozone more likely to be generated due to a combination of heat from sunlight and chemical reactions of NO 2 and other precursor pollutants with sunlight.

When ozone molecules are inhaled, they can cause chemical reactions in lung tissue that irritates the airways and result in symptoms like coughing and difficulty breathing.

Because of its high prevalence in Fresno, ozone exposure can exacerbate symptoms of respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD, and even lead to infections and premature death caused by lung damage from ozone. Ozone pollution become much worse during long, hot California summers in the Central Valley that provide longer periods of time for ozone to develop in the sunlight. Traffic through the city increases during the summer travel season as well as during tourist season in the winter, when millions travel to and stay in Fresno for access to nearby mountain resorts for skiing, snowboarding, and other outdoor recreation.

Cool weather inversions during summer and winter nights can also trap high levels of PM2. Fresno has consistently been ranked among the top 10 most polluted cities in California over a number of years.

Fresno County overall also received an F for all three pollutant measurements, indicating that poor air quality from ozone and particle pollution poses a distinct threat to the health of not only its most sensitive groups but also to the entire population at large.

Throughout the United States, research suggests that low-income groups are much more vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution due to the proximity of many poverty-stricken communities to sources of pollution, such as factories and busy highways that are both common to the Fresno area. Research shows that members of these groups, in particular African Americans, are more likely to be at risk of complications due to air pollution exposure, including premature death.

Bakersfield ranks worse than Fresno on ozone and annual particle pollution, but just behind Fresno in hour particle pollution. Its population is close in size to that of Fresno, last estimated at ,, and with its own significant numbers of sensitive groups close in proportion to that of Fresno:. Much of Bakersfield also lives in poverty. People of color make up about Despite its high ranking for the worst air pollution in the United States for multiple pollution measurements, Fresno air quality and Bakersfield air quality has actually improved over the last two decades.

Since , Fresno has experienced Fresno has also experienced Fresno has also reduced its annual concentration of particle pollution by 5. The Fresno Bee.