I spend a lot of time in Los Angeles, where the smog, as described by local troubador Beck, is “a giant dildo crushing the sun.” You forget about it for awhile, and then you look at the sky close to sunset, and go, wait a minute, why does God’s palette involve so much yellow and brown? The EPA released a document last week stating that because of climate change, those of you in the Northeast and the Midwest will soon have a clearer sense of what I’m talking about.

The EPA draft study states that simulations showed that in those regions, higher average temperatures will potentially lead to longer smog seasons and worse health threats for kids, the elderly, and people with respiratory issues.

Greater visible ecological damage in Midwestern swing states… Electoral boon for greens? Probably depends on how severe and well-publicized the adverse health effects, sadly.

 Image: flickr/steven.buss