Re: Ozone levels in Smokies

July 30, 1999

Becky writes:

<< Susie--I heard on public radio on Wednesday that the ozone levels in the

Great Smokies of North Carolina were at all-time highs on Monday and

Tuesday. They said the poor air quality made breathing very difficult.

As if you don't have enough to worry about, don't breathe the air >>

I agree. I do have asthma, along with so many of other diabetics. The air

pollution from the entire Southeast seems to pile up in the valley where

Asheville is located. Added to that is western North Carolina's dirty little

secret, which is that we have some really major polluters. One, located in

adjoining Haywood County, is Champion Paper, in Canton. the plant is right

next to I-40, and there are big green interstate signs warning of " fog " for

the next 5 miles ... yeah ... right ... Not surprisingly, this area has

unnaturally high levels of breast cancer, etc. Two major polluters are Day

International in Arden, and BASF Corp. in Candler. Just those two companies

dump a million pounds of crap into our air. It is a sad truth that, for many

years, companies have moved to poverty-stricken areas of the South and

pretty much had their way with local governments, because they offer scarce

jobs. And many of the jobs in this area pay only $5-$8 an hour. We are among

the highest percentage of the population living in mobile homes of anywhere

in the country.

So there ... I do live in Paradise ... but I just showed you its soiled

petticoat.

Here is a great site for all of us to look up our own area or another area

and see who is doing most of the polluting, according to the toxic release

paperwork they filled out.

Buncombe County is among the " top " 20% for cancer risk from air pollution,

and in the top 10% for ozone levels. And that's such a shame, because this

area is so gorgeous. I am lucky, though, because I am up at higher

elevation, up at the north end of this big valley. The temp. here is usually

2-8 degrees cooler than at the Asheville Airport, 25 miles further south.

But it has been so milky this week I often can't see past the first ridge of

mountains. (On clear days I can see Mt. , at approx. 6,680 feet the

tallest mountain in the East.)

This web site is GREAT. You can get very proactive ... fire off email to the

polluters, your politicians, etc.

Susie

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