There was a scare in the air in New York City on Monday morning. The cable and local tv stations were all over the story. The cause was a so-called mystery odor permeating the air. Was it a biological weapons attack? Was it cancer-causing chemicals? Mayor Michael Bloomberg was quick to announce that the odor was not harmful, yet the actual source of the smell is still a mystery; fingers now point to New Jersey. But the media frenzy over this tiny blip of an environmental air concern was — as usual — overwrought.

The media likes to attract viewers and that means sensationalizing the so-called news. Only when it seems like there is some sort of instantaneous event, i.e., a bad smell, that vast media coverage is warranted. Cable and local TV news are the worst offenders because they have so much airtime needed to be filled. They jump on events like mystery odors because it actually gives them something to do, something to talk about, something to — ahem — fill the air with.

Every day there are more harmful, non-odorous toxic pollutants spewed into the air than during the few hours this mystery odor was smelled. Anyone living in the city is breathing in carbon monoxide emitted from the thousands of vehicles driven daily. Anyone who opens his or her apartment windows can see evidence of polluted air in the form of little black particles that blow in and dirty up the sill. These same black particles and toxic gases are breathed in every minute, every hour, every day that you are alive. Where is the media report about that?

Odorless toxic emissions coming from these vehicles are harmful to you as well as the environment

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are six common air pollutants: ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and lead. Breathing in any of these pollutants isn't good for you. They can cause anything from neurological disorders to asthma or ultimately death.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas released primarily from vehicles. It is odorless yet you breathe it in everyday, and in concentrated amounts it can be fatal. Not only is this gas dangerous to you, it also has caused the "greenhouse effect" that has led to global warming.

The smoke coming from this tailpipe is contributing to global warming

The federal Clean Air Act of 1990 put caps on vehicle emissions levels and has had success in reducing the amount of carbon monoxide blown into the air. According to the EPA, in 1992 — only 15 years ago — carbon monoxide levels "exceeded" these emissions caps in 20 cities, which meant that more than 14 million people were overexposed to this harmful gas.

Breathing carbon monoxide can lead to neurological disorders and — in high concentrations — death

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Comments (2)

the queen of hearts

yea. where did that odor spring from? you have 50 news reporters on the scene and no one has bothered to investigate the story --- oh wait, they were probably too busy applying make-up.

jess | January 11, 2007

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Mystery odor: what you can't smell actually hurts you more

great story - you should do expose on why central park was never closed off to cars after years and years of signing petitions by thousands and thousands of people. the car exhaust in close proximity to those exercising is a big health risk, not to mention the danger of speeding cars. why do those who live in the city have less power over their environment than those who drive through it on their way to homes in the suburbs or to the airport? there is no good reason for cars to be allowed in central park. if congestion is the stated problem, perhaps the solution is to issue less taxi licenses.

evan tick | January 11, 2007 | url

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