Where does valley pollution go? Arvin

I, too, am disappointed that the number of burn days for my fireplace is to be cut again. I have heated my home with wood for most of 20 years.

However, some information is needed in order to criticize the decision. The small town of Arvin, south of Bakersfield, is the final destination of our pollution. It gathers there, packed in from all industries, fireplaces, cars, trucks, buses, trains etc. Arvin produces little pollution of its own.

That small town has more children with asthma than any other in the state or nation. When we last came into the valley over the Tehachapi Pass, the view was disgustingly gray with smog. Arvin has the highest level in the nation of ozone in its smog. The children there cannot play outside without damage.

Seyed Sadredin, executive director of the valley air district, told the Associated Press, "Everything we've done here is for Arvin, but unfortunately, Arvin will see progress later than any other area because that's where pollution flushes out of the valley."

Everyone north of Arvin is doing the flushing. They are breathing our smoke and exhaust. We here have no idea of what people in Arvin live with or die with.

J.E. BLANTON

Ceres