Page 5 - nlf1954smog

SMOO - THE INGREDIENTS

Smog as it is kmwn in the Western states (particularly
Southern California) is entirely different than the atmospheric pollu­
tion that is conmon in the F.iastern and mid-Western cities of the United
States~ In the· large cities to our east, such as Pittsburgh, New York;
St. Louis •and C~icago, air pollution is caused primarily by soot and
solid particles,. resulting from the burning of coal and coke~ In Los
Angeles, smog is the result of the burning of liquid and gaseous fuels
(primarily gasoline, fuel oil and natural gas), augmented by the proces=
sing of these fuels and the burning of rubbish in backyard iooinera.tors·o

In metropolitan Los Angeles, there is a total of about 2 700
1
tons per day of pollutants put into the air from various combusion
sources. Of this total, the fraction which .causes troublea in the form
of eye irritation, reduced visibility and vegetation damage is called
"organic", and totals about 1 500 tons per dayo
9
In 1953, the make-up of these organic effluents in Los Angeles
was as follovs:

General Public Emissions

Fuel gas 11 tons
Fuel oil 11
Gasoline 1,016
Refuse 41-' .
l,452 tons

Petroleum I n:lustry; &niosions

Fuel gas 16
Fuel oil 12
28 tons

Other Industry Emissions

Fuel gas 8
Fuel oil 17
Refuse 29
__5_1,. tons

1 1 534 tons