What is Special about Where I live?

While some environmental health issues impact individuals in much the same way, many more environmental concerns are specific to particular locations.  For example, minimizing or eliminating the use of artificial air fresheners in the home can substantially improve indoor air quality, but in a city like Los Angeles, outdoor air quality, because of frequent and heavy smog, is as much or more of a concern than indoor air quality.

Whether you live in a city or a town, in an urban or a rural area, knowing the heavy hitters (with respect to environmental health) in your area can help you to combine general guidelines on food, air, and water with location-specific information.  The increasing volumes of information regarding environmental health and exposure that continue to flow in from many different directions make it hard to choose what to do first. 

Here, we supplement basic guidelines for improving healthful living via How We Live (food, air, and water) with top priority issues associated with particular cities, towns, or regions of the country.  If you don’t see your city, town, or geographical area here, we encourage you to contact us, or check back regularly for updates. 

The Winners Circle in the United States

(Outdoor Air Quality) Worst Ozone Pollution:

Cities: Los Angeles, Fresno, Bakersfield, Visalia (CA); Houston (TX)

Counties:  San Bernardino, Fresno, Kern, Riverside, Tulare (CA)

Health Concerns: Increased Asthma Risk; Decreased Lung Function

What do do:

1.    Limit Long Outdoor Activity

2.    Exercise early or late in the day

(Outdoor Air Quality) Worst Particulate PM2.5 Pollution:

Cities: Los Angeles, Visalia, Bakersfield, Fresno (CA); Pittsburgh (PA) Counties:  Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Tulare, Kern (CA)

Health Concerns: Increased Risk of Asthma attacks, Bronchitis, and Respiratory Infection;  Long term risk of heart & lung disease

What do do:

1.    Avoid heavy Exercise Outdoors (walk rather than run)

2.    Exercise away from Roads

3.    Avoid indoor burning especially candles and wood.

(Drinking Water Quality) Worst Drinking Water Quality (2001):

NOTE:  Limited Number of Cities were Evaluated (NRDC)

Cities: San Francisco, Fresno (CA); Phoenix; Albuquerque; Boston

Health Concerns:  Vary, depending on primary contaminants

What do do:

1.    Identify what is polluting your water (via local water report)

2.    Filter for known pollutants

3.    Drink bottled water