so before the clean air act and the reduction of smog...what did folks do to avoid it

[dembotoz]

it seems that smoke is more common this year.

what basic stuff can you do to improve air quality in your home or apt

[unc70]

1. You were mostly screwed. Little escape

If you were in urban areas, there was little escape. That was also before widespread A/C, so you needed to keep windows open.

From DC to Boston, west past Chicago, the air was often foul. Elsewhere, the London fog was not fog.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. air cleaner

or the ad hoc substitute, a damp towel over a box fan

[mopinko]

6. or a furnace filter.

[Scrivener7]

4. I think they just died young. I just ordered an air purifier.

I should have done it years ago bc of seasonal allergies, but I'm cheap. This terrible smoke convinced me though. It was about $80.

[Ocelot II]

5. The Great Smog of London in 1952 killed thousands.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Smog_of_London

[dembotoz]

7. saw this in the times today

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/air-purifier-wildfire-smoke/

[txwhitedove]

8. Granny said during dust bowl they put wet sheets over the

windows. The sheets were dirty next morning. Some family moved to California, and some stayed in OK.