Film

Clearing the Air: The War on Smog

2025 · 1h · Documentary

In July 1943, dark, smoky clouds suddenly descended over Los Angeles, causing residents to complain of burning eyes, nausea, and difficulty breathing. People couldn’t see across the street and visibility was so bad that cars crashed. With World War II raging, many feared a chemical attack by the Japanese, but it soon became evident that no foreign enemy was to blame. The waves of pollution called “smog” — a combination of “smoke” and “fog” — continued and the cause remained a mystery. It was the beginning of an epic struggle for clean air involving years of scientific investigation and civic pressure, bringing together people across ideological divides in a remarkable example of bipartisanship. Their work would lead to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Air Act, which have had an enduring effect on the quality of air Americans breathe.

Richard Nixon

Self

Ronald Reagan

Self

• Peter YostDirector
• Cameo GeorgeExecutive Producer

Trailer | CLEARING THE AIR: THE WAR ON SMOG | AMERICAN EXPERIENCE | PBS

Release date

August 26, 2025

Status

Released

Original language

English

Runtime

1h

Genres

Documentary