In the 1960s, many people moved to Phoenix, Arizona for its clean, dry, desert air. This was the place to go if you had lung problems, such as severe allergies or asthma. By the 1990s, however, this quality had changed. The city's fast growth brought a lot of construction and many more cars. Dust particles in the air and pollution from the cars created what is called the “brown cloud” that sits over the city. Part of the problem is the location of the city, which is in a desert valley. At night, the cool air traps the pollutants, so they can’t escape into the atmosphere. In 2009, Phoenix was listed as one of the worst cities in the U.S. for air pollution. Asthma rates in Phoenix have increased significantly. Residents of the area all agree that the air quality in Phoenix must be improved, and they have started to work on the problem.
One way Phoenix has begun to approach the air quality problem is by creating a new law to control emissions* from cars. The law requires residents to have their cars checked regularly to ensure that they are not releasing high levels of air pollutants. Drivers who don’t follow this requirement must pay a fine. In addition, people are encouraged to carpool (ride in groups) and telecommute (work from home).
A second way the city is cutting down on air pollution is by controlling the use of wood stoves and outdoor wood-burning ovens. The law limits when these kinds of stoves can be used. People are encouraged to replace these with other kinds of stoves that use different sources of energy, such as natural gas. Arizona has created “burn-free” days to address this growing problem.
Finally, perhaps the most important solution to Phoenix’s air quality problem is the construction of a light-rail train system. This system was completed in 2008. It provides transportation within the city of Phoenix, and it connects Phoenix with the cities of Tempe and Mesa. People can easily reach downtown Phoenix to work or socialize. The number of people using the light rail system is increasing. Its original goal was to carry 26,000 passengers daily, but within the first year the number reached 35,000 riders each weekday. People are beginning to change their lifestyles in order to take the train instead of their cars. With fewer cars in the downtown areas, there will be less pollution and the air quality will improve.
Phoenix still has a long way to go before the clean air returns completely. Hopefully, though, with all of the regulations and changes in lifestyle, the pollution will eventually decrease to a level that is healthy for its residents.
* smoke and other particles released from the exhaust of automobiles