‘American Experience’ presents ‘Clearing the Air: The War on Smog’

Tuesday, August 26 at 8 p.m.

It’s July 1943. Dark, smoky clouds suddenly descended over Los Angeles. Residents complain of burning eyes, nausea and difficulty breathing. The visibility worsened to the point it caused car crashes and people couldn’t see across the street. Although World War II was ongoing, a chemical attack was ruled out and the reason behind the smog was a mystery.

This is the story about the smog problem that let to the passage of the Clean Air Act. This event marked the beginning of the struggle for clean air, and people across ideological divides would create the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Clean Air Act, which went on to change the quality of air in America.

A member of Daughters of the Revolution in period dress
aired Dec. 5

Sons and Daughters: Proving Ancestry

A view of Phoenix with the PBS logo and text reading: Annual Luncheon
Dec. 18

Join us for the Arizona PBS Annual Luncheon

PBS Books Readers Club graphic with several book covers featured in 2025

Join us for PBS Books Readers Club!

TV towers on South Mountain in Phoenix

Show Low to receive new channel number, more powerful signal

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters

STAY in touch
with azpbs.org!

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters: