Agoura officials express air quality concerns

Polluted air contributes to higher rates of asthma and could cause underdevelopment of children's lungs, according to studies being supported by state air quality officials.

Jan Perry, a Los Angeles city councilmember for District 9, presented information on local air quality to the Agoura Hills City Council earlier this month.

Perry is a representative for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, based in Diamond Bar. She told council members she is traveling throughout the area to update city officials on compliance issues, environmental practices and the challenges that cities, agencies and residents face in the fight for cleaner air.

The affect of pollution on asthma sufferers is devastating, according to the summary of a 10year study of children's lung health in Southern California.

"Results showed that the lungs of children growing up in smoggy areas are underdeveloped and will likely never recover," the report stated.

Perry said the district is continuing its efforts to reduce automobile emissions and develop cleanerburning fuels.

Because of the state's air quality, "More than half of the children in the Central Valley carry inhalers to school. They have asthma," state Sen. Sheila Kuehl said during an automobile emissions conference two weeks ago in Santa Monica.

At the Agoura Hills meeting, Perry discussed other related issues, including the degradation of air quality after wildfires. She said that while smoke itself is dangerous, nanoparticles are carried in the wind, adding to pollution and possibly jeopardizing public health.

Councilmember John Edelston asked Perry why some fire departments conduct controlled burns during the summer when air quality is already at its worst.

"It's not just the time of year, but the time of day," Perry said of the importance of cities following air quality guidelines. She said Malibu officials probably hadn't consulted the AQMD.

One information piece outlined "Ten Things AQMD is Doing to Help Clean the Air." The list included eliminating dirty diesel vehicles by requiring school buses, public buses, street sweepers, garbage trucks and airport taxis to phase in clean-burning vehicles. Another fact sheet contained information on how to choose a car that lowers smog.

To identify "Clean Air Choice" cars, air quality officials place identifying stickers on qualifying models, including models that have been certified by the California Air Resources Board as "partial zero emission vehicles," the state's top standard for gas-powered cars.

The AQMD operates ongoing air monitoring studies in the most polluted areas and co-sponsors research on the health effects of pollution on children, athletes and people with respiratory illnesses. It also helps fund research to develop zero-emission fuel cells to power cars, buses and homes.

The agency offers incentive programs to help convert diesel tugboats, construction equipment and trucks to models that use cleaner fuel. Officials are developing new regulations for dry cleaners, oil refineries and compost facilities to further reduce pollution.