Take A Deep Breath, In Tribute

Dr. Henry Gong Jr. doesn't have a name that will be familiar to many people in the United States, but his mind, his studies and his concern for the health of the American public had a quiet influence on important air quality rules across the country.

Gong, who died Friday, according to the Los Angeles Times, did pioneering studies into the effect of particulate matter on human health. In recent years, state and federal governments have cracked down on this pollution -- made up of tiny dust particles and chemical droplets -- because studies like those Gong conducted show how insidious they can be.

They can lodge deep in the lungs and even enter the blood stream through the tiny vessels that connect the respiratory and circulatory systems. They increase the risk of serious lung diseases, up the risk of heart failure and may lead to cancer and other serious chronic illnesses. So take a deep breath today, and thank Gong for his hard work. His legacy will live on in the clarity of the air around us.

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