California was long praised for its pristine air, thanks to later industrialization compared to the East Coast. Today, persistent pollution, droughts, and devastating wildfires have made breathing clean air a privilege for the wealthy, who invest heavily in advanced solutions.
In the 2019 global ranking of the world's most polluted cities, major California urban centers fared relatively well. San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Diego ranked low, with the top 100 spots dominated by cities in India, China, and Pakistan. Los Angeles, California's most polluted large city, placed 1,598th.
As noted in a September 23, 2020, Los Angeles Times article, 18th-century publications hailed California's air for its therapeutic purity, owing to its later industrial development. Yet today, droughts, pollution, and recent massive wildfires have transformed the state's air quality dramatically.
With air quality deteriorating, a thriving market has emerged for high-end complete air purification systems, particularly in construction and real estate. These state-of-the-art systems, used in hospitals, fully renew indoor air multiple times daily and combat threats like toxic radon gases through specialized foundations and ventilation. Prices can reach up to $200,000.
Real estate agents now market already-equipped homes with these systems, and demand has surged amid recent events, driving prices skyward. Luxury home expert Carl Gambino notes that for high-net-worth buyers, these installations are essential, with clients readily paying premiums for healthier air.
For these affluent individuals, access to truly clean air promises extended life expectancy. However, it underscores stark inequalities, a longstanding urban divide now amplified by cutting-edge technology available only to the elite.
