In July 1943, dark, smoky clouds suddenly descended over LosAngeles, causing residents to complain of burning eyes,nausea, and difficulty breathing. People couldn't see acrossthe street and visibility was so bad that cars crashed. WithWorld War II raging, many feared a chemical attack by theJapanese, but it soon became evident that no foreign enemy wasto blame. The waves of pollution called "smog" — acombination of "smoke" and "fog" — continued and the causeremained a mystery. It was the beginning of an epic strugglefor clean air involving years of scientific investigation andcivic pressure, bringing together people across ideologicaldivides in a remarkable example of bipartisanship. Their workwould lead to the creation of the Environmental ProtectionAgency and the Clean Air Act, which have had an enduringeffect on the quality of air Americans breathe.
