Los Angeles County - District 6

District 6 is one of the most polluted regions in California. Diesel-powered trucks and trains emit toxic particulate matter as they travel through local neighborhoods everyday. In Van Nuys, private jets disperse harmful lead particles over nearby houses and schools as they takeoff and land at one of the worst polluting airports in the country. In Sun Valley, a power plant  leaked methane gas for years without notice .

The combination of these environmental hazards forces District 6 residents to contend with some of the highest rates of pollution-related illnesses in the state, ranging from acute respiratory illnesses to cancer and even premature death. Children are especially vulnerable to these environmental hazards, as exposure to lead and other toxic particles in early childhood can (and do) have lifelong consequences. 

And these consequences can span generations.

District 6 ranks in the top 10% statewide for overall pollution burden. Residents face air pollution levels higher than 90% of California communities, with neighborhoods located near freeways, warehouses, and industrial corridors. Diesel trucks and buses frequently idle their engines while parked or waiting—releasing toxic exhaust where children learn and play 

Diesel idling adds to the area’s heavy environmental burden, especially near schools and sensitive sites. 

City and Community Health Profile - Los Angeles City Council District 6 Report

Reducing idling means: • Cleaner, safer air for children, families and all residents.

Under normal conditions, warm air rises and helps pollutants disperse. During an inversion, warmer air sits above cooler surface air and traps pollution near the ground.

In the San Fernando Valley, surrounding mountains can intensify that effect. Pollution from traffic, freight, and industrial activity can linger longer and build up in the same neighborhoods where people live and work.

District 6 is not only surrounded by pollution sources. It is also shaped by conditions that keep pollution in place.