<p>I was recently reading that most of the Los Angeles smog goes to the Claremont area and settles. I've heard there are some problems with the water quality in the area, too. Are there any health risks associated with attending college there?</p>
<p>The smog is probably the number one issue working against the consortium (being part of the greater L.A. area may be number two, though for some it’s a plus). Otherwise these are some of the best schools in the country, enjoying year-round spring and summer weather.</p>
<p>Air pollution in the Los Angeles basin is actually about 1/2 what it was 20 years ago, despite the very large growth in population, cars on the road, etc. (This is measured by number of days exceeding various standards, according to the AQMD [Historic</a> Ozone Air Quality Trends](<a href=“http://www.aqmd.gov/smog/o3trend.html]Historic”>http://www.aqmd.gov/smog/o3trend.html) ).</p>
<p>The smog does tend to be worse in the inland valleys, like the Claremont area. It is also generally worse in the summer (when school is not in session). You’ll have to decide for yourself how big an issue it is. Are the health risks from smog in Claremont greater or smaller than the risks of getting frostbite or having an accident on the ice in Northfield, MN? I don’t know.</p>
<p>Honestly, the smog issue in CA is completely overemphasized. It’s really not a big deal. The only time that air quality can ever really be a problem is during fire season, when ash from forest fires (close or far away) can drift towards Claremont. But this is true for all areas of Southern California, so it’s pretty much unavoidable.</p>
<p>I would suggest: don’t factor smog into your decision. It’s such a minimal factor; you probably won’t even notice a difference when you get here.</p>
<p>I lived in SoCal for most of my life, though never in Claremont specifically. However, I did live in the San Fernando Valley, and honestly, I never really noticed much smog. The smoke from the forest fires can be horrible, but you get that anywhere where there are forests, not just the Los Angeles area.</p>
<p>I’ve been out to LA many times, all at different times of the year, and haven’t been bothered by the smog (or even noticed it at all, really). Specifically, I went to Pomona twice- March and October- and the air seemed quite clear.</p>
<p>The “winter” (which here means months that fall in the offficial winter season by other measures) can be breathtakingly clear (50+ miles visibility out into the ocean). It’s summer and early fall (esp. September) that are bad. But, as dadx3 pointed out, infinitely better than 20 years ago. Still, there are days that can only be described as “icky” (which here means, rather hazy with pollutants).</p>
<p>The palm trees and 50 degree winters are worth it.</p>
<p>smog was the only thing i didn’t like about the claremonts. I advise getting an air filter in your room for when you sleep. </p>
<p>1/3 or your time there with way healthy air will surely add up!</p>
<p>Having visited Pomona’s campus over the past five years (factoring in the college visit) at different times of the year, I can say that I haven’t witnessed any smog per se. As previously posted, when there are wildfires in the area, the wind can blow some of the smoke toward Claremont. And there can be days there, as anywhere else, when the wind dies and the heat factor rises - that combination can make for muggy weather. Otherwise, I would say it’s negligible.</p>
<p>I agree with raelah. Like you, I’d heard horror stories before going to Pomona - “The smog is so bad, you can’t see the stoplights at the end of a street!” But that’s not true at all, and I rarely notice the smog. Occasionally, you’ll look up at the mountains and think, “Hm, why’s it so foggy?” before realizing it’s the smog, but that’s the extent of it. Don’t let smog factor into your decision to go to Pomona.</p>
<p>Smog is such a funny word…I wonder what its etymology is?</p>
<p>combination smoke+fog=smog</p>
<p>qualm is an even funnier word. like from that one thread “parental qualms”</p>
<p>anyone? haha</p>
<p>…ok back to smog.</p>
<p>haha no qualm is awesome, as is ebullient!</p>
<p>and the smog thing i should have known lol…maybe i just don’t remember since it doesn’t exist in good old dc.</p>
<p>Smog doesn’t exist in DC? Weird.</p>
<p>For 2008, here are the most polluted cities in the U.S. (smog is ozone):</p>
<p>Top 10 most polluted US cities
(By year-round particle pollution)
- Los Angeles, California
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Bakersfield, California
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Visalia/Porterville, California
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Fresno/Madera, California
- Hanford/Corcoran, California
- Detroit, Michigan</p>
<p>Top 10 most polluted US cities
(By ozone)
- Los Angeles, California
- Bakersfield, California
- Visalia/Porterville, California
- Houston, Texas
- Fresno/Madera, California
- Sacramento, California
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
- New York City/Newark, New Jersey
- Baltimore, Maryland./Washington, DC
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana</p>
<p>The valleys east of L.A. generally get the worst of the greater L.A. area. Yes, L.A. has improved, but it’s still the worst in the country.</p>
<p>[City</a> Mayors: The most polluted US cities](<a href=“http://www.citymayors.com/environment/polluted_uscities.html]City”>City Mayors: The most polluted US cities)</p>
<p>The list looks like a generalization that lists known big city areas. Downtown L.A. is closer to the water and has significantly less smog. The AQMD smog alerts for the valleys on the east are frequent and really bad. The only time most people in the East Valleys can safely exercise is in the early morning and they should call for alert info. The solution would be to build more air conditioned exercise facilities. If they covered the fields and air conditioned them, the students would have great air quality.</p>
<p>It seems awfully strange that you first ask how bad the air quality is, and then answer your own question, especially since your answer does not indicate you asked the initial question.</p>
<p>I can attest, having spent last summer (between my 2nd and 3rd years) here on summer research (which is awesome) that the air quality issues are greatly exaggerated. While certainly the smog is pretty heavy, this heaviness is more of a “eww…that looks gross” rather than “I can’t breathe”. The worst it gets is when there are fires (mostly October) from the smoke and ash, but that only lasts a few days. I know people who have grown up in the area (as in, in the San Gabriel Valley, which I believe Claremont is in) who have not suffered from any adverse health affects, despite spending their whole lives in the area.</p>
<p>“I know people who have grown up in the area (as in, in the San Gabriel Valley, which I believe Claremont is in) who have not suffered from any adverse health affects, despite spending their whole lives in the area.”</p>
<p>Especially good genes? ;)</p>