Photo: Diane Edwardson, January 25, 2012, 8:05AM. That's not fog, it was a crystal clear, bone dry morning. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
We've written lots about air quality and the dangers of Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) in the past year. Prior to the community meeting with Metrolink in January 2012, scenes of haze hanging over Elysian Valley (photo above) were almost daily occurrences.
The DPM that does real damage is microscopic, PM10 & PM2.5. The particulate matter gets down deep in your lungs. It's small enough to cross into the blood stream and cause a host of major chronic illnesses. It's what you can't see that will kill you.
According to Elysian Valley neighbors, Metrolink has made reductions in idling times for their trains in the service yard just across the LA River. However, without a Health Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction Strategy, we have no way to measure if the changes Metrolink is making are really reducing the toxic pollutants we can't see.
Attend the Community Meeting Thursday, July 26, 2012, 6PM at the LA River Center. RSVP: Assemblymember Cedillo's office, (323) 225-4545
More Info: Northeast LA Residents for Clean Air
