ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½

© 2025 ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Clearing the Air: The War on Smog

Season 37 Episode 4 | 52m 39s

In 1943, dark, smoky clouds enveloped Los Angeles, causing residents to complain of burning eyes, nausea, and difficulty breathing. The source of the smog was a mystery. CLEARING THE AIR: THE WAR ON SMOG is the story of the epic struggle for clean air, involving years of scientific study and civic pressure that would lead to the creation of the EPA and the Clean Air Act. From AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

Aired: 08/25/25 | Expires: 09/24/25
Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by and . Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Extras
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
Watch a preview of Hard Hat Riot.
When smog issue plagued their city in the mid 20th century, Angelenos got creative.
The major breakthrough in understanding L.A.'s deadly smog came from a surprising place.
How has L.A.'s history of smog shown up on the big screen?
Watch a preview of Clearing the Air: The War on Smog.
Watch a preview of Clearing the Air: The War on Smog.
The women behind the camera.
We were told to "shake it like a Polaroid picture". But what if we got it wrong?