Houston tops Los Angeles as nation's smog capital

Los Angeles is no longer the smoggiest city in the U-S. That dubious distinction now belongs to Houston. Houston and Los Angeles were running neck-and-neck in the air pollution stakes

Wednesday, October 27th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Los Angeles is no longer the smoggiest city in
the U-S.

That dubious distinction now belongs to Houston.

Houston and Los Angeles were running neck-and-neck in the air pollution stakes until three weeks ago, when Houston recorded its
44th smog day of the year.

Kathy Barton of the Houston Health Department says that day --October seventh -- is a "day that will live in infamy."

Los Angeles has had smoggy air for decades and has long been the butt of jokes about it.

Researchers say unusually dry weather played a part in trapping dirty air over Houston, and Los Angeles may very well reclaim the
title.

A pollution expert in Houston says the cities will probably pass it back and forth for years, depending on whose weather is worse.