By Ana B. Ibarra, Kaiser Health News
Table of Contents
- Introduction: Kira's Story
- Air Quality Challenges in San Joaquin Valley
- Community Response and Initiatives
- New State Law and Air Quality Monitoring
- Wasco's Specific Air Quality Issues
- Impact on Residents and Hope for the Future
Introduction: Kira's Story
WASCO, Calif. — For 6-year-old Kira Hinslea, the joy of playing outside is often overshadowed by the need to check air quality first. "Is it OK?" she eagerly asks her mother, Shirley Hinslea, before rushing out to enjoy the fresh air.
However, Kira's excitement is short-lived. Within 20 minutes of playing, she returns indoors, her throat itchy and chest heavy. Grabbing her inhaler, she grapples with the reality of her severe asthma, a condition exacerbated by the polluted air in the San Joaquin Valley.
Air Quality Challenges in San Joaquin Valley
Residents of the Valley breathe some of the most contaminated air in the nation. Families have adapted by keeping masks in their cars, inhalers close at hand, and checking air quality updates multiple times a day.
Yet, Shirley Hinslea often questions the reliability of air-quality data. The apps she uses frequently lag behind real-time conditions, sometimes showing conflicting readings. This uncertainty amplifies the risk for families like hers.
Community Response and Initiatives
In response to these challenges, local health and environmental organizations are stepping in to provide real-time air quality data. The Central California Asthma Collaborative is distributing 20 air monitors that measure particulate matter, giving residents like Hinslea vital information to protect their health.
"We just don't have all the information we need — not at the neighborhood level," says Kevin Hamilton, a respiratory therapist and CEO of the Central California Asthma Collaborative. "Regulatory agencies often think regionally, neglecting the specific needs of local neighborhoods."
Shirley Hinslea is enrolled in the collaborative's asthma management program and eagerly accepted one of the palm-sized monitors. These devices, priced at around $230, connect to Wi-Fi and provide access to a global map showing air quality data in real-time.
"For Kira's health, I want the best, most current information," says Hinslea as a staff member installs the monitor outside her home.
New State Law and Air Quality Monitoring
This initiative aligns with a new state law aimed at improving air quality and monitoring in heavily polluted areas like Wasco. The California Air Resources Board is set to designate ten communities for enhanced air quality support, each receiving a comprehensive air-monitoring system.
These monitors will track various pollutants, including ozone—the primary ingredient in smog—and particulate matter composed of ash, soot, and diesel exhaust. The data gathered will help communities pinpoint pollution sources, such as pesticide spraying, emissions from local oil refineries, and port operations. The California Air Resources Board and regional air districts will then devise strategies to reduce these emissions.
Communities receiving monitors in the initial phase include:
- Shafter (near Wasco)
- South-central Fresno
- Boyle Heights
- South Sacramento
- San Bernardino
- El Centro in Imperial County
- Port neighborhoods in San Diego County
Monitoring in these areas is scheduled to commence by July of next year.
Wasco's Specific Air Quality Issues
Although Wasco isn't among the first communities to receive a tracking system, residents will likely benefit from the insights gained in nearby Shafter. Home to approximately 26,000 residents, Wasco boasts a reputation for having an ideal climate for rose cultivation and is a major almond producer. However, increased almond farming leads to more pesticide spraying, raising concerns about air quality.
Gustavo Aguirre Jr., an organizer with the Central California Environmental Justice Network, highlights the cumulative pollution sources affecting Wasco: "We're surrounded 360 degrees by agricultural production and are also central to California's oil and gas industry. Plus, we're flanked by Highways 5 and 99."
Impact on Residents and Hope for the Future
The summer wildfire smoke has further compounded air quality issues for residents, including Hinslea. "Now, you've got smoke, dust, and everyday pollution. It can get really bad," she remarks, pondering whether the overcast sky is simply smog.
When Kira's asthma flares up, she often coughs and wheezes through the night, causing her to miss school the following day. With real-time data from the air monitor, Hinslea hopes to make informed decisions about whether her daughter can attend school and participate in outdoor activities.
"It wasn't always like this," reflects Hinslea, a lifelong Wasco resident. "When I was little, the air seemed crisper and brighter. It felt different."
About the Source
This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation.
About Kaiser Health News: Kaiser Health News (KHN) is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. KHN is a nonprofit news service covering health issues.