Abstract
During the 1940s, an unusual form of air pollution was experienced in the Los Angeles (LA) area of Southern California. Referred to as LA smog, this pollution differed from previously known air pollution with respect to its temporal patterns (daytime formation and nighttime dissipation), eye irritation, high oxidant levels, and plant damage. Early laboratory and field experimentation discovered the photochemical origins of LA smog. Though mechanistic understanding was incomplete, it was determined that hydrocarbon (HC) compounds in the atmosphere participate in smog formation, enabling build-up of higher ozone concentrations than would otherwise occur. It being a significant source, there was great interest in characterizing and controlling HC emissions from motor vehicles. Considerable work was done in the 1940s and 1950s to understand how emissions varied with vehicle operating conditions and deterioration of engine components. During this time, procedures were developed (and improved) to sample and quantify vehicle emissions. Besides exhaust, HC emissions from crankcase blowby, carburetor evaporation, and fuel tank losses were measured and characterized. Initial versions of both catalytic and non-catalytic exhaust after-treatment systems were developed. The knowledge gained from this pre-1960 work laid the foundation for many advancements that reduced vehicle emissions and improved air quality during subsequent decades.
Highlights
Coinciding with the rapid growth of personal automobile usage following the end of World War II, an unusual form of air pollution began to be noticed in the Los Angeles (LA) area of southern California
Extensive research efforts involving the fumigation of plants, smog chamber experiments, and detailed chemical analysis of ambient air all led to an improved understanding of smog formation and the role played by motor vehicles
While similar vehicle pollution control programs have been implemented in many countries, this paper focuses exclusively on the U.S situation
Summary
Coinciding with the rapid growth of personal automobile usage following the end of World War II, an unusual form of air pollution began to be noticed in the Los Angeles (LA) area of southern California. The term “smog,” being a combination of smoke and fog, was used when referring to this pollution, though, as explained later, this term was not accurate Throughout the latter half of the 1940s and all of the 1950s, considerable efforts were undertaken to characterize this unique form of LA smog and to understand its causes and effects. Extensive research efforts involving the fumigation of plants, smog chamber experiments, and detailed chemical analysis of ambient air all led to an improved understanding of smog formation and the role played by motor vehicles. These early decades saw many R&D (research and development) discoveries, successes, and failures.
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