Who’s the Smog King Now?
Back from my weekend in L.A. and what a contrast. Yes in the US many residents are crying about US$3.00 gas, our gas is nearly US$4.00. Whatever the price it hasn’t stopped many from driving their pimped out SUV’s. The real surprise was the amount of smog in Los Angeles vs here in Toronto.
For years California has pressured car manufacturers and gas companies to abide by “California Emissions” standards. Well it seems to be working. The air there despite the L.A. AUTO LOVE (on my tourist travels at least) was much cleaner than here in Toronto. While we are not immune to the love of the auto it’s probably the gasoline and not just our habits that are to blame. Ontario gas has some of the highest sulphur content anywhere in the world. That’s more SMOG and ACID RAIN for Torontonians…
What ever the mix of dirty Ontario gas, Michigan coal or any other gunk that gets thrown in the sky from both sides of the border this year has been INSANE for air in Ontario. Coming back on the GO Train today I noticed that on the platform you could see the ground level Ozone!!! Not dust, OZONE! The sun had a wierd hue as it too was awash in the garbage. Take it easy out there tomorrow. This is ridiculous!!! Well I hope more people make the transit switch. It’s a lot easier sharing the higher cost of fuel with trainload of people. (So far Go Transit agree and have starved off a 5% fare hike as ridership has risen 4% this year!)
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welcome back! just got back from southern california recently myself. my sister was complaining about their gas prices (clearly she hasn’t seen the prices in toronto lately). i used to make cracks about their smog, but now i can’t say a damn thing!
So what’s with all the emission tests we have to do? What’s with Petro Canada’s “clean” gas?
I would have thought that we were taking all the steps in the right direction, only to find out about this higher sulphur content.
Right now I’m taking my car to the subway to park (for free since I’m working evenings) and taking the TTC downtown, so I guess I’m doing my part, although I’d prefer to be driving downtown.
Oh, and welcome back :)
Monday as I was leaving Toronto on a plane to DC, after visiting with family Monday, I usually am quite excited when the plane flies over the city of Toronto so I can get a good glimpse of the city and all the changes it’s gone through. What a disappointment! The smog (I guess I never realized how bad the pollution has gotten since I left Toronto in 1989) was so thick that I couldn’t see anything at all.
The surprising thing is as the plane approached DC, the view was spectacular - b/c it was a beautiful day as it was in Toronto, but without the smog. What happened to my beloved Toronto?
The smog (remember how early this spring we received the first smog alert?…it was a record)is getting ridiculous here in the GTA, you’re right…I’m seriously considering moving elsewhere (maybe Calgary) as it’s causing my asthma to act up quite a bit…
I was in the Bay Area last March and one could see the layer of smog at times but health-wise, it wasn’t really affecting me the way it hits me here in Toronto…must be the sulphure levels…sad.
Ontario gas has more sulphur therefore we have noxious smog and HIGH concentrations of acid rain. (sulphur + water = sulphuric acid). The GTA has some of the worst acid rain on the planet too.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/acidrain/acidfact.html
This only 40-50% of the problem. Our lakeside location means high humidity so the 50-60% of the airbourne pollutants from the U-S-A (COAL PLANTS!!!) hang around for prolonged periods. George W snubs Kyoto etc so good luck with your Asthma. Who knows if a new Pres down South will mean a breath of fresh air???
FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO BREATHE…LoL