TV segment mixes up two air pollutants.

In a report on the CBS Evening News, John Blackstone explained the impact of Chinese pollution and sandstorms on California's weather specifically its rain and snowfall.

However, the report missteps by mixing two types of air pollution in a confusing and misleading way. "No country emits more carbon dioxide than China a byproduct of its booming economy. And, as CBS News correspondent John Blackstone reports, those Chinese emissions are having a big impact in the U.S.," said news anchor Scott Pelley in his introduction. The problem is that particulate matter, not carbon dioxide, is the pollution factor discussed in Blackstone's report.

The story goes on to accurately describe the research. It tells how airborne particles from China travel long distances in the jet stream to reach the U.S. West Coast within a few days. There, they alter the atmospheric dynamics and the weather as well.

Blackstone does a good job explaining the source and role of two very different kinds of particles. On one hand, very small particles produced by China's industries and vehicles tend to sequester atmospheric water and prevent rain droplets from forming once in California. On the other hand, sand from storms originating in China's rampant deserts may cause more rain and snow when it hits California. These explanations were nicely supported by clear animations.

One may only regret that the report was erroneously launched on the promise to discuss carbon dioxide emissions, which have no link to the particles discussed in the report and confuses rather than clarifies the research.

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Based on a work at www.environmentalhealthnews.org.