COUNTYWIDE : Drivers Asked to Aid Air Pollution Fight

The American Lung Assn. of Ventura County on Monday urged motorists to help fight air pollution by using their cars less and by calling a toll-free number to report cars with smoking tailpipes.

The announcement came at a news conference called by the lung association and Ventura County Air Pollution Control District officials to kick off Clean Air Week and launch a public-awareness campaign to improve local air quality.

The county’s air did not meet federal health standards for air quality on 33 days and failed to meet state standards on 106 days in 1991, said Richard Baldwin, head of the county Air Pollution Control District. The county’s air has failed to meet federal standards on four days so far this year, with the official smog season beginning last Friday. Statistics were not available for state standard violations in 1992.

Lung association officials also asked motorists to leave their cars at home on Thursday, “Don’t Drive Alone Day,” and to use alternative means of transportation to get to work.

“If you walk, if you car-pool, if you take a bus, if you plan your trips ahead of time, you can make a difference,” said Supervisor Susan K. Lacey.

On Thursday, South Coast Area Transit and the Simi Valley bus lines will offer rides for 25 cents, and the Camarillo and Moorpark lines will offer free rides, Lacey said.

The air pollution district will continue the toll-free number--1-800-559-SMOG--which started up early this year, for another 13 weeks to evaluate its effectiveness. The district will send letters to motorists whose cars are reported emitting smoke asking them to repair the problem, Baldwin said. But no penalties will be assessed, he said.

The district will also run public service announcements on area radio stations to advertise the toll-free number and encourage motorists to car-pool and keep their cars tuned up.

George Yu, a lung specialist and member of the county association board, said 50% of air pollution in the county is attributable to vehicular exhaust.

In a recent Gallup poll, 87% of those surveyed said they consider air pollution a problem, but only 38% saw it as a health threat, Yu said. Yu said that one-third of the county’s population, including pregnant women, young children and the elderly, are most susceptible to harmful effects of air pollution.

“We still have a long way to go in educating the public,” Yu said.