der fell by 3.9 percent while it increased by 1.3 percent in the Northeast. Thus, while more violent crime was being committed in the West from 1999 to 2000, fewer murders were being committed there compared to the Northeast (Crime Index Trends, 2001, p. 1).
Although there are many types of pollution, California, and particularly Southern California, is associated with air pollution. Indeed, the term "smog" was invented to describe the combination of smoke and fog that often blankets the Los Angeles basin. Unfortunately for its residents, Southern California continues to have poor air quality, despite strides that it has made in recent years. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a list of those states and counties that are not in compliance with regard to regulations regarding safe air pollutant levels, and both California as a whole and Southern California in particular continue to struggle with pollution.
Los Angeles County is in violation of safe levels with regard to carbon monoxide (which is at serious levels), ozone (at extreme levels) and PM-10 (also at serious levels). Adjacent Orange County is in violation with carbon monoxide (at serious levels), ozone (at extreme levels) and PM-10 (also at serious levels). In San Bernardino County, located to the east of Los Angeles County, ozone levels are in the severe range while PM-10 levels are in the moderate (but still unhealthful) range. Ventura County (which is still considered part of Southern California but which is located well north of Los Angeles proper) is unhealthful with regard to ozone (in the severe range). San Diego County, located south of Orange County, has ozone levels in the serious range (Currently Designated, 2001). Thus, air pollution continues to be a serious problem for residents of Southern California relative both to other counties in the state and the nation as a whole.
Families/Divorce Rates in California
California does...