EMISSIONS STANDARD REACHED CARBON MONOXIDE NO LONGER THE PROBLEM.Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, cleared a major air quality hurdle in 2002 by meeting federal standards for carbon monoxide carbon monoxide, chemical compound, CO, a colorless, odorless, tasteless, extremely poisonous gas that is less dense than air under ordinary conditions. It is very slightly soluble in water and burns in air with a characteristic blue flame, producing carbon dioxide; emissions - a key component of smog, officials said Thursday. The South Coast Air Quality Management District The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), formed in 1976, is the air pollution agency responsible mainly for regulating stationary sources of air pollution for most of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside County, and all of Orange county. has kicked its carbon monoxide problem thanks to newer automobiles that emit significantly less pollution than older models. But the region still faces serious battles with ozone and particulate matter particulate matter n. Abbr. PM Material suspended in the air in the form of minute solid particles or liquid droplets, especially when considered as an atmospheric pollutant. Noun 1. pollution. The South Coast District, which includes Los Angeles and Orange counties, plus parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, is one of the last regions to clean up carbon monoxide. A decade ago, the region exceeded carbon monoxide standards roughly 30 days a year. Southern California exceeded the national threshold on just one day in 2002. That relatively clean year - plus a perfect record in 2001 - brought the region into compliance. ``We've met the standard now and we still need to continue to meet it in 2003, with no exceedences to maintain the standard,'' said Joe Cassmassi, senior meteorologist with the air district. ``We're reserved in our joy until we can reach the safety zone,'' he said. That will happen when there are even more cleaner cars on the road, and there is even less chance of high carbon monoxide days. Now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and must certify the results and make an official finding of compliance. Los Angeles and neighboring cities must maintain the clean record to stay in compliance. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless o·dor·less adj. Having no odor. o  dor·less·ly adv.o poisonous gas that inhibits the blood's ability to carry oxygen to organs and tissue. It is especially dangerous to infants, the elderly and people with heart or respiratory problems. |
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