That agrees with my experience as a long time resident of both PA (both
coasts) and NJ. Both flying and fishing.

I don't remember the 50s but less was less for the most part (Pittsburgh
being a possible exception).

Air and water quality was going downhill thru the 60s and early 70s. I
remember the smell walking to school in Pgh and the water quality of the
3 rivers thru the 60s and 70s. I played on the strip mined landscape.
Things were the same from Cleveland to NJ.

Beginning in the early-80s I had a chance to re-sample all of the same.
Cleaner air and water throughout. Fish re-appeared in places they had
been poisoned out of. Trees grew where land was reclaimed. It didn't
stink as much in all the usual places, Linden NJ excepted.

People enter the water in downtown Pittsburgh and water ski! I grew up
barely believing that my grandfather regularly swam in the Mong during
the 30s-40s. That was not possible in the 60s.

We found canals inundated with water where previously there were only
industrial drains. Imagine crabbing in a Brooklyn canal.

*Caution* statement that may be incorrectly perceived as political:
During this period, America's economy boomed, as did the world's. People
pushed for environmentally friendly policies from industry and had
their government impose those policies on industry. Industry followed
their "Greed is good" policy and a win-win balance was struck.

Take a deep breath and smile.

Kyle Boatright wrote:
I was having lunch with a buddy of mine the other day who has been a pilot
for almost 50 years. We discussed the bad visibility we have in the South
and up the Eastern seaboard in the summer. Haze to 10,000', lateral
visibility frequently under 5 miles, etc.

He said that it is much better now than in the late 60's/early 70's. He
said the airborne pollution in those days was so bad that if you went on a
long X/C you often came back with an oily film covering the leading edges of
the wings. He also added that when he started flying, in the 50's,
visibility was usually far better than it is today.

Any comments?

KB