The air in our lungs

The air around us is polluted, and the level of pollution in our air varies constantly. The causes of the pollution fluctuate as well. The pollution consists of gases and particulate matter. Common “natural” sources are forest and range fires, volcanic activity and various gases that originate in nature. Most all of these natural sources are not constant, unlike the sources that humanity produces on a recurring and regular basis.

Envision pre-historic human activity after fire became part of daily life. The evolution of the use of fire goes from shelter or cave for cooking and warmth to today’s spark that ignites a fuel that drives our modern world. Through that evolutionary process, we consumed copious amounts wood and coal to fire the industrial revolution. Wood and coal are still providing energy and warmth for humanity.

Air pollution and human health concerns go back a few millennia. From an article in Smithsonian.com I found this: “The residents of ancient Rome referred to their city’s smoke cloud as gravioris caeli (heavy heaven) and infamis aer (infamous air).” Several complaints about its effects can be found in classical writings. “No sooner had I left behind the oppressive atmosphere of the city [Rome] and that reek of smoking cookers which pour out, along with clouds of ashes, all the poisonous fumes they’ve accumulated in their interiors whenever they’re started up, than I noticed the change in my condition,” wrote the philosopher and statesman Seneca in A.D. 61.”

Smoke particles, ash, and soot were imbedded in the air over all major cities throughout the world as we revolutionized and industrialized our lives. The great London Smog, or Pea Soupers, crippled the British city many times. London had been suffering from air quality for centuries. It came to a head in early 1952 with a deadly smog. “4,000 people had died as a direct result of the smog, and 100,000 more were made ill by the smog’s effects on the human respiratory system. More recent research suggests that the total number of fatalities may have been considerably greater, one paper suggesting about 6,000 more died in the following months as a result of the event.”

New York City faced concerning air quality issues, as well. From the results of an air quality study in New York City in the American Journal of Public Heath in 1937, these words from the conclusion: “With such detailed data on local conditions available and an adequate code on air pollution, it will be more readily possible to reduce to a minimum air pollution in this metropolitan city, and be able to measure the results obtained.” Today, we continue the air quality battle — a battle with ourselves.

November 2019 weather is in the record book. The one-month weather data from my home weather shows the following: First snow of the 2019-2020 winter fell overnight on the 27th. Wasn’t much, I had 0.2 inches of new snow. The maximum recorded amount of snow for November was 17.5 inches in 1955. Total precipitation for the month was 0.33 inches. The monthly maximum precipitation for November was 3.95 inches in 1973. The high temperature was 56.3˚F and the minimum was 15.1˚F. The mean for the month was 37.1˚F. The all-time high was 69˚F in 1989. The all-time low was -10˚F in 1985 and the all-time mean was 37.5˚F.

Referred to as the Cold Moon, we will see a full moon on Dec. 12.