50 Years of Progress Toward Clean Air:  A Photographic Retrospective

July 16, 1953. Smog Test -- Janet Dickinson conducts air pollution check on City Hall lawn

Smog blocks our view of the mountains, stunts plant growth, stings our eyes and pains our chest. It can permanently damage our hearts and lungs. Air pollution comes from our cars, factories and consumer products. We've cut smog by two-thirds since 1955 by cleaning up pollution sources, but there's more work ahead. Our air remains the dirtiest in the nation.

South Coast Air Quality Management District monitors smog and, with public support, takes action to make our air safe to breathe. Fifty years of fighting smog has helped. In 1977, the Southland had 121 Stage 1 smog-alerts, 79 in 1986 and just 7 in 1996. With a little more work, they'll soon be eliminated.

Lost City. This virtually impenetrable cloud of smog was typically of the skyline hovering over Los Angeles in the 1940s and 1950s.

Researchers found that air pollution hurts human lungs, like these of this non-smoker.

Farmers found smog damaged crops like sugar beets.

Gas mask highlights 1950s protest against smog.

Growth in smokestack industries during World War II led to "gas attacks" and "daylight dim-outs." Clouds of dust, smoke and fumes choked residents. Organized efforts to cut smog began 50 years ago in 1947 when Los Angeles County formed the nation's first air pollution control agency. New regulations required major industries to get air pollution permits and install smog controls. But everyone did their part.

Volunteers were exposed to pollution to help researchers understand the health effects of smog.

Office worker dabs at smog-induced tears February 4, 1953.

Air quality inspectors, 1949.

Frequent smog alerts in the 1950s and 1960s renewed public activism. Residents jammed town halls and lobbied legislators to conduct hearings on smog. Angry and fearful of smog's effects, residents rallied the California legislature to merge four county agencies in 1977 to form a new and stronger regional smog fighter -- the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Twenty million people took part in Earth Day on April 22, 1970.

Protestors demonstrate for strong air pollution controls.

November 6, 1954. Present from Oregon -- Cay Baldwin examines huge -- but very light package received by smog-protesting Los Angeles Optimist Club. It contained "pure air."

Legislators in 1970 hold a petition appealing for clean air from 140,000 residents of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

October 21, 1954. Women Protest Smog -- Wearing gas masks and carrying protest banners housewives calling themselves the Smog-A-Tears parade through downtown Pasadena streets.

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Citizens demand smog control agency.

November 2, 1955. Girls Picket Billboard -- "We Love L.A." announce girls as they picket a billboard inviting smog sufferers to leave for Phoenix.

With some encouragement, industry went to work controlling air pollution. Oil refineries reduced sulfur and trapped and recycled wastes. Power companies switched to low-sulfur natural gas.

Industry’s first "baghouse" was installed in 1950 to collect smoke and fumes from a foundry.

Controlling air pollution now is just an accepted part of being a good corporate citizen.

This synthetic rubber plant in 1943 was thought to be the culprit in LA's "gas attack" and temporarily shut down. Then, proving industry could do the job, all fumes were eliminated by 1946.

Research into controlling auto exhaust began in the Southland in the 1950s, but not until the 1960s did actions curb pollution. Thanks to catalytic converters, cleaner gasolines and smog checks, new cars pollute 90% less than 1970 models. Today, even cleaner cars powered are bringing further improvements.

UCLA engineers in 1960 inspect a new device claiming to cut auto emissions. California set the first auto emission standards in 1966.

GM unveiled a new system for testing each 1973 California car model as it came off the assembly line.

The Federal Motor Vehicle Act of 1960 enabled national research to address pollution from motor vehicles. In 1964, at the urging of the new Control Board, California decreed that cars sold in the state must be equipped with smog controls.

This Stage 2 smog alert, predicted for June 13, 1979, never happened.

Over the past 50 years, the Southland has made tremendous progress. We have the cleanest cars, industries and consumer products in the world. But even today we still breathe the nation's dirtiest air. We all can help by making simple lifestyle changes at home, like buying less polluting products and ridesharing.

Air filters start out clean and soon are covered with soot and dust. Researchers link these small particles to respiratory disease and cancer.

AQMD helps kids play it safe on smoggy days with toll-free air quality information. Call 1-800-CUT-SMOG.

What You Can Do to Help Clean the Air

At Home

•   Consider buying an electric lawn mower when you replace an old one.
  
    Try "zero-VOC" or no solvent (and stink-free) paints.
  
    Fire up your barbecue briquettes in a different way. Try an electric
         probe or chimney starter.
  
    Contact your elected officials and tell them you care about clean air.

On the Road

•   Buying a new car? Think high-fuel efficiency and low emissions. Or even an electric
         vehicle!
  
    Don’t top off the gas tank. Spilled fuel is a big contributor to air pollution.
  
    Keep your car tuned and smog checked.
  
    Report gross polluters. Just call 1-800-CUT-SMOG.