Look at the Clouds

I was surprised by findings of the American Lung Association, as reported in the 2008 "State of the Air". As reported in the April 29 edition of the Palm Beach, Post, West Palm Beach's air quality ranks among the best in the state. While West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County may have fared well in comparison to other cities and counties in the State and in the Nation, there can be no doubt that each year brings an increase in the amount of particulate matter in the air that we breathe.  Having lived in South Florida for 30 years, I can remember crystal-clear skies.  Whether looking at the horizon when driving along a straight roadway or when flying in or out of South Florida, the clarity of our skies more than 15 years ago was often in stark contrast to the brown haze that one would find when traveling to large cities, such as New York.

Today, smog has become prevalent in South Florida (as it has most of the world).  It is noticeable when towards West Palm Beach and looking at the high-rise buildings in the distance.  It can be seen anywhere in South Florida when looking up at the sky:  while easy to define the clouds when looking at those above us, when focus falls to the horizon clouds fade to a non-distinct blur.

Can our eyes be deceiving us?  Can they be deceiving the many commercial airline pilots Ive queried, who have reported seeing a significant increase in haze when flying in and out of South Florida skies over the past 10-15 years? Is the inability to clearly define clouds on the horizon a function of some other phenomenon rather than particulate matter in the sky?

In April, a research from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California suggested that black carbon, a small particle suspended in the atmosphere that is produced in diesel exhaust and when wood, coal or other types of solid fuel are burned, could be the second most important contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide and a key to preventing warming, at least in the short-run. 

Beyond potentially contributing to climate change, airborne particles cause a number of serious health problems. As noted on the EPAs website, particle pollution is made up of a number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, soil or dust particles, and allergens (such as fragments of pollen or mold spores).  Small particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter pose the greatest problems, because they can get deep into the lungs, and may even get into the bloodstream. Exposure to such particles can affect both the lungs and the heart, and lead to a variety of health effects. Numerous studies have linked air pollution to early deaths, heart attacks, reduced lung function, lung cancer and various other health problems. A University of Southern California epidemiologist reported to air pollution regulators last year that children living in Southern California's more polluted areas had a higher risk of developing brain tumors.  Late April, research from the Cedars-Sinai neurosurgery supported that finding.  In March, Dutch researches found that inhaling diesel exhaust triggers a stress response in the brain that may have damaging long-term effects on brain function.

It has been suggested that, rather than viewing our generation as having inherited the Earth from our forefathers, we should view it as though we are borrowing it from our children.  Notwithstanding the findings of the American Lung Association, as reported in the Post, the health effects of particulate matter is having an immediate effect upon us, our parents, and our children.  And if you need to be reminded of just what you are breathing& just look up at the clouds.

Bradley S. Feuer is a physician and attorney, living in Palm Beach County.  He is a past-president of the Palm Beach County Medical Society.