Oh, L.A. - hot bodies, movie star glam and ...smog. So much smog that Los Angeles has once again topped the American Lung Association's list of the most polluted cities in America.

Based on data collected from 2003-2005, the association confirmed that the greater Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside area has the worst air quality in the country despite the Clean Air Act. Is it any wonder that the sun only shines on TV? No one can actually see it outside.

The study based its data on ozone pollution levels that occur as heat and sunlight merge with pollutants from vehicles, factories and other sources. Exposure to such pollution can lead to heart disease, lung cancer and asthma attacks. Such pollution has especially harmful effects on children, seniors and people who work outdoors. And in this kind of environment, going for a jog in the park could actually do you more harm than good.

Los Angeles doesn't have the corner on all of the country's pollutants (winter movie season excluded), the study also found that half the nation's population lives in counties that have moderately unhealthy air pollution.

Bakersfield, CA, came in second on the list followed by Birmingham, Atlanta, Detroit, Cleveland, Visalia, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and St. Louis. Thankfully Washington D.C. and Texas weren't included. Now at least George W. Bush can keep on living in his bubble and continue to deny the whole environment pollution nonsense.

James W. Coates,
National Park Expert