Probably not any time soon, because at present that would mean going to war with China. I live in Tokyo, which is obviously a lot closer to China than the Bay

Probably not any time soon, because at present that would mean going to war with China. I live in Tokyo, which is obviously a lot closer to China than the Bay Area is, and here we have PM 2.5 pollution reports on the news a lot like the regular weather report. On the worst days I throw on a 3M respirator[1] before I ride my bike across town, which makes me look like a character from some kind of post-apocalypse video game. I am glad to see articles like this, because hopefully hard numbers will provide a concrete basis for diplomatic/economic pressure to make it better. Even if the Chinese leaders are willing to pursue economic growth even at the tremendous cost of making the air in Beijing[2] so bad that (rich) kids go to preschool in pressurized tents, I don't want to have to keep my kid indoors all the way across the Sea of Japan in Tokyo -- but on the worst days, we do (on the advice of the pediatrician). (In that sense, I am selfishly glad it is reaching the US west coast -- because the US has a lot more leverage to influence China's behavior than does Japan.) [1]: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NDN29O/ref=s9_qpp_gw_p60_d99_ir01?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-7&pf_rd_r=14A8GFPJBK6C2ESC1XQH&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938451&pf_rd_i=507846 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NDN29O/ref=s9_qpp_gw_p6... [2]: https://www.google.com/search?q=beijing+air&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=NWIUUsuKLo2rkgW1wIDYBg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=914&bih=778 https://www.google.com/search?q=beijing+air&client=safari&rl...