7/10/02

LC020710

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> THE NEWEST SOURCE OF TOXIC WASTE MAY BE STARING YOU IN THE FACE AT HOME AND AT THE OFFICE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMPUTERS AND SOME OF THE DANGEROUS THINGS THEY'RE MADE OF.

RANDY LEWIS>> I DREAM ABOUT DEAD COMPUTERS ALL THE TIME AND THE MORE I DREAM ABOUT IT, THE MORE IT FEELS LIKE I'M JUST GETTING OVERWHELMED WITH THESE THINGS, SO THE PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET BIGGER FROM HERE ON OUT.

VAL>> HEART DISEASE IS A WOMAN'S WORST ENEMY, YET MOST OF THE RESEARCH IS BASED ON THE THREAT TO MEN. TONIGHT WE'LL HEAR FROM A CARDIOLOGIST WHO HAS SOME NEW IDEAS ON HOW WOMEN CAN INCREASE THEIR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.

JESS>> PLUS, WE'LL TAKE YOU ON A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE. TONIGHT'S DESTINATION? THE TOP OF MOUNT WILSON. WE'LL SEE HOW THE FIRST AUTOMOBILES MADE THAT TREK NEARLY A CENTURY AGO ON ONE OF THE FIRST TOLL ROADS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> IT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

IT'S BEEN CALLED E-WASTE, A NICKNAME FOR THE TONS OF ELECTRONIC GARBAGE THAT'S PILING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY. EVERYTHING FROM OLD CELL PHONES TO DISCARDED PALM PILOTS. BUT MAINLY, THESE HIGH-TECH TRASH PILES ARE FILLED WITH OLD COMPUTERS AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS MOST COMPUTERS CONTAIN LEAD AND OTHER TOXIC MATERIALS THAT CAN LEACH INTO THE SOIL AT A LANDFILL.

VAL>> NOW YOU MAY SAY, WHY NOT RECYCLE THE OLD COMPUTERS INSTEAD OF HAULING THEM OFF TO A DUMP? WELL, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, BUT AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, IT'S NOT ALWAYS SO EASY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> STEPHANIE BOWEN FINDS IT HARD TO BELIEVE THE COMPUTER SHE BOUGHT JUST A FEW YEARS AGO IS ALREADY OBSOLETE. LIKE MANY PEOPLE, SHE RECENTLY REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE, BUT THAT CREATED A BRAND NEW PROBLEM. WHAT TO DO WITH THE OLD COMPUTER?

STEPHANIE BOWEN>> I DIDN'T WANT IT ANYMORE. I WANTED A NEW ONE, AND I WASN'T GOING TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
PHILIP BRUCE>> STEPHANIE'S PROBLEM IS ONE A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE FACING EVERY DAY. FINDING A PLACE TO DISPOSE OF THEIR OUTDATED GADGETS AND GIZMOS. THOSE DEVICES EVEN HAVE A NAME: ELECTRONIC WASTE, OR E-WASTE FOR SHORT.

STEPHANIE BOWEN>> IT'S JUST LIKE ANY APPLIANCE, REALLY. A TOASTER OF MINE JUST BROKE AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT DID I DO? I THREW IT IN THE TRASH CAN. WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT?

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE TRASH CAN ISN'T A GOOD PLACE FOR AN OLD COMPUTER. AS MUCH AS YOU MAY HAVE LOVED IT WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW, A DISCARDED PC IS REGARDED AS HAZARDOUS WASTE MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE MATERIALS FOUND IN COMPUTER MONITORS AND TV'S. ACROSS CALIFORNIA, IT'S ILLEGAL TO DUMP E-WASTE IN A LANDFILL WHERE TOXINS CAN LEACH INTO THE SOIL.

GARY PETERSEN>> WE KNOW THAT FORTY PERCENT NOW OF LEAD IN LANDFILLS COMES FROM SCREENS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> GARY PETERSEN RUNS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM SOLVING ENTERPRISES. HE WAS A PIONEER IN THE RECYCLING BUSINESS AND NOW HE'S TRYING TO KEEP THE MOUNTAINS OF OLD COMPUTERS AND E-WASTE FROM WINDING UP IN THE TRASH BIN.

GARY PETERSEN>> THE IDEA OF PUTTING IT IN THE LANDFILL IS NUTS, SO YOU'VE GOT IT AT HOME IN STORAGE. YOU'VE GOT IT IN YOUR BASEMENT, YOU KNOW. SOME YOUNG LAD WITH A BASEBALL BAT -- BOOM -- BUMPS THE SCREEN. I MEAN, THIS IS HAZARDOUS WASTE MATERIAL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ABOUT 10,000 TELEVISIONS AND MONITORS ARE THROWN AWAY IN CALIFORNIA EVERY DAY AND THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED SIX MILLION OLD UNITS IN STORAGE IN CALIFORNIA HOMES.

WAYNE OMOKAWA>> WE'VE GOT TO MOVE. WE CAN'T SIT AROUND AND WAIT FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THAT E-WASTE IS OUT THERE. IT'S HAPPENING EVERY DAY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WAYNE OMOKAWA IS WITH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES'S BUREAU OF SANITATION.

WAYNE OMOKAWA>> PEOPLE THAT HAD OLD CAMERAS, OLD TV'S, WERE THROWING IT IN THEIR DUMPSTERS AT HOME. THIS IS BEING PICKED UP BY OUR COLLECTIONS DIVISION AND IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT TO LANDFILL AND LANDFILLS ARE A LIMITED RESOURCE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THERE WAS A TIME WHEN CONSUMERS COULD DONATE OLD COMPUTERS TO SCHOOLS OR CHARITY, BUT WITH TECHNOLOGY PROGRESSING SO RAPIDLY, MOST PC'S BECOME TOO OUTDATED TOO QUICKLY FOR THEM TO BE USEFUL. THAT'S WHY THE PILES OF E-WASTE CONTINUE TO GROW.

RANDY LEWIS>> I DREAM ABOUT DEAD COMPUTERS ALL THE TIME AND THE MORE I DREAM ABOUT IT, THE MORE IT FEELS LIKE I'M JUST GETTING OVERWHELMED WITH THESE THINGS, SO THE PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> RANDY LEWIS OWNS SOCAL COMPUTER RECYCLING, ONE OF THE FEW LOCAL COMPANIES IN THE BUSINESS OF RECYCLING E-WASTE.

RANDY LEWIS>> ALL OF IT IS RECYCLABLE. IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THROWN AWAY. THEY KEEP IT IN THEIR GARAGE OR IN THEIR CLOSET HOPING SOMEDAY THAT THE SMITHSONIAN WILL TAKE IT. WELL, THE SMITHSONIAN DOESN'T WANT OLD COMPUTERS. I DON'T EVEN REALLY WANT OLD COMPUTERS. EVERYTHING I SEE NOW IS JUST JUNK, BUT WE ARE DEDICATED TO KEEPING IT OUT OF THE LANDFILL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> RECYCLING IS THE NEXT FRONTIER IN THE INFORMATION AGE. CURRENTLY, CALIFORNIA RECYCLES ONLY FIVE TO TEN PERCENT OF ITS OLD COMPUTERS, BUT MORE THAN NINETY PERCENT OF EACH DEVICE CAN BE RECYCLED.

RANDY LEWIS>> WE'LL TAKE EQUIPMENT AND EITHER BREAK IT DOWN TO THE BASIC COMPONENTS AND RECYCLE THE METALS, THE BOARDS AND THE ALUMINUM. IF WE CAN KEEP SOMETHING IN USE, WE LIKE TO DO THAT. WE DO WHATEVER UPGRADES ARE NECESSARY AND THEN RESELL THE EQUIPMENT OR DONATE THE EQUIPMENT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO WHY AREN'T ALL ELECTRONICS BEING RECYCLED? IT'S A NEW PROBLEM THAT'S JUST NOW BEING TACKLED. INDIVIDUAL CITIES HAVE STARTED TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN E-WASTE SOLUTIONS, USUALLY NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS WHERE RESIDENTS CAN DROP OFF THEIR OLD EQUIPMENT. BUT COLLECTION IS JUST PART OF THE PROCESS.

RANDY LEWIS>> THE COSTS ARE KIND OF SUBSTANTIAL. IT REQUIRES A LOT OF LABOR TO BREAK THESE COMPUTERS DOWN.

WAYNE OMOKAWA>> THE CONSUMER IS GOING TO PAY WHETHER IT'S INCREASED COLLECTION CHARGES AND LANDFILLS OR THE MANUFACTURERS MAY SNEAK IN A TEN DOLLAR PRICE INCREASE JUST TO COVER THOSE COSTS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THAT MONEY IS NEEDED TO HELP AN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR E-WASTE RECYCLING AND TO STOP SOME OF THE WAYS COMPUTERS ARE CURRENTLY DISCARDED.

GARY PETERSEN>> IF IT'S OBSOLETE, IT NEEDS TO BE RECOVERED AND RECYCLED AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GET ONBOARD. INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, CONSUMER AND US, THE RECYCLERS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IN THE MEANTIME, CONSUMERS HAVE LIMITED OPTIONS FOR THEIR OLD COMPUTERS. BUT IF E-WASTE CONTINUES TO GROW, SO WILL THE NEED FOR REAL SOLUTIONS.

STEPHANIE BOWEN>> A FEW MONTHS AGO, I WOULD HAVE JUST, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE TRIED TO DONATE IT OR, I DON'T KNOW, STUCK IT UP IN MY CLOSET. YEAH, I'M DEFINITELY AWARE OF IT NOW AND I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT JUST THROW MY COMPUTER AWAY. I WOULD SEEK OUT A PLACE THAT'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT THAT WILL LEAST AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> FOR LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, I'M PHILIP BRUCE.

JESS>> JOINING US NOW IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF HIGH-TECH WASTE, LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCILMAN ERIC GARCETTI. WHAT'S THE PROGRESS ON DEALING WITH THIS?

ERIC GARCETTI>> WELL, THIS IS AN IMMENSE PROBLEM. IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE STATISTICS. THERE'S ABOUT 4.3 MILLION TONS IN 1999 OF THIS E-WASTE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THE PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY WITH MONITORS AND WITH TELEVISIONS THAT HAVE CATHODE RAY TUBES. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IS TO PIONEER A PILOT PROJECT FOR FOLKS TO BRING THEIR COMPUTERS -- THERE'S AN ESTIMATED ABOUT SIX MILLION IN PEOPLE'S GARAGES RIGHT NOW IN CALIFORNIA -- TO COME IN TO BE ABLE TO RECYCLE THIS IN A WAY THAT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.

JESS>> IS THERE SUCH A WAY TO RECYCLE IT AT NO COST?

ERIC GARCETTI>> THERE IS. THERE ARE SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN WAYS THAT WE CAN TAKE IT AND WE CAN RECYCLE ALMOST ALL PARTS OF THE COMPUTER INCLUDING THE CATHODE RAY TUBES. THAT COSTS US A LITTLE BIT MORE AND WE'RE LOOKING AT PARTNERING WITH GOODWILL INDUSTRIES ACTUALLY TO CREATE SOME JOBS HERE LOCALLY FOR FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES, BUT ALSO ALLOW THE GRINDING OF THE LEAD AND THE TUBES AND OTHER HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TO BE DONE IN A WAY THAT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE.

VAL>> SO RIGHT NOW, THE LAW IN CALIFORNIA SAYS YOU CANNOT LEGALLY DUMP A COMPUTER IN A LANDFILL, RIGHT?

ERIC GARCETTI>> RIGHT.

VAL>> BUT IT DOESN'T PROVIDE FOR ANY RECYCLING PROGRAM?

ERIC GARCETTI>> RIGHT. THERE'S NO STANDARD RIGHT NOW FOR THE STATE. THERE'S A SENATE BILL THAT THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES HAS SUPPORTED. RUTH GALANTER AND MYSELF INTRODUCED A MOTION TO SUPPORT SENATE BILL 1619 THAT GLORIA ROMERO HAS TO MAKE MANUFACTURERS AND CITIES BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE STANDARDS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A PROGRAM FOR PICKUPS THROUGHOUT ALL CITIES IN CALIFORNIA. ABOUT TEN COUNTRIES HAVE DONE THIS AROUND THE WORLD. JAPAN, DENMARK, THE EUROPEAN UNION IS LOOKING AT STANDARDS AND ABOUT TEN STATES RIGHT NOW IN THE U.S. ARE LOOKING AT STANDARDS AS WELL, BUT NONE HAVE PASSED THEM YET.

JESS>> BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BECOME THE REPOSITORY FOR MOST OF THE JUNK COMPUTERS? CHINA, INDIA?

ERIC GARCETTI>> ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, IN A RECENT REPORT, YOU CAN SEE THAT -- I WAS READING THIS BEFORE -- IN CHINA IN THE TOWN OF GUIYA, THERE ARE CITY OF LOS ANGELES TAGS FROM OUR COMPUTERS, LOS ANGELES SCHOOL DISTRICT TAGS, IN TOWNS WHERE PEOPLE ARE RECYCLING THESE LITERALLY BY HAND. SO THEY'RE TAKING THESE TOXIC MATERIALS, IT'S SEEPING INTO THEIR WATER, IT'S CAUSING CANCER AND OTHER DISEASES IN THOSE COUNTRIES.

VAL>> BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PROTECTIVE STANDARDS OR OSHA STANDARDS?

ERIC GARCETTI>> EXACTLY. AND EVEN THOUGH CHINA HAS OUTLAWED IT, OUR OWN LAWS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE WON'T SIGN THE BASIL TREATY WHICH MOST COUNTRIES HAVE IN THE WORLD, WHICH PROHIBITS US FROM TAKING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE FOR RECYCLABLE MATERIALS LIKE THIS TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

VAL>> WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE AMERICAN E-WASTE IS BEING DUMPED ABROAD?

ERIC GARCETTI>> ABOUT FIFTY TO EIGHTY PERCENT OF IT IS BEING DUMPED ABROAD, BUT WHAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT WE'RE ONLY RECYCLING ABOUT TEN PERCENT OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN CALIFORNIA. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, ONE OUT OF SIX CALIFORNIANS WILL BE BUYING A NEW MONITOR NEXT YEAR. THAT'S THE LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION WE HAVE. ABOUT EIGHT MILLION OR SO NEW MONITORS WILL GO ON THE MARKET. ONLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MILLION ARE GOING OUT, BUT OF THAT, WE'RE RECYCLING ABOUT 400,000. SO ONLY TEN PERCENT OF THIS STUFF IS BEING RECYCLED. MOST OF IT IS STILL BEING PUT IN LANDFILLS OR IN PEOPLE'S GARAGES AND IT'S CAUSING HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

JESS>> YOU TALK ABOUT AND SUPPORT LEGISLATION IN SACRAMENTO, BUT WHAT ABOUT FEDERAL LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS? IS SUCH A BILL BEING INTRODUCED THERE?

ERIC GARCETTI>> RIGHT NOW, THERE HASN'T BEEN AND THERE'S BEEN RESISTANCE TO THAT FROM SOME PLACES IN THE INDUSTRY. I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES, LIKE HEWLETT PACKARD GIVES YOU FIVE DOLLARS WHEN YOU SEND YOUR TONER IN TO RECYCLE AND YOU GET THAT BACK, THAT'S THE SORT OF INCENTIVES WE NEED TO HAVE SO THAT WE'RE BUILDING THINGS IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY AND WE GET THE COMPANIES TO WORK WITH US SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE SUCH A THROW-AWAY SOCIETY AND WE DEAL ON THE BACK END WITH THE POLLUTION.

VAL>> ERIC GARCETTI, L.A. CITY COUNCILPERSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD LUCK. TAKE CARE.

ERIC GARCETTI>> THANK YOU. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE BACK.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, HIGH-SPEED PURSUITS. POLICE ALMOST ALWAYS GET THEIR MAN, BUT IS IT WORTH PUTTING INNOCENT BYSTANDERS AT RISK?

JESS>> BREAST CANCER GETS THE PUBLICITY AND RIGHTLY SO, BUT IT IS NOT THE GREATEST THREAT TO A WOMAN'S HEALTH. THAT DISTINCTION GOES TO HEART DISEASE. IN FACT, IT IS ESTIMATED HALF THE NATION'S FEMALE POPULATION EVENTUALLY WILL DIE OF HEART DISEASE, A RISK MANY TIMES GREATER THAN THAT FOR BREAST CANCER.

VAL>> AND THAT CONTRADICTS THE POPULAR MYTH THAT MEN GET HEART DISEASE AND WOMEN DON'T. TONIGHT WE'LL HEAR FROM A HEART SPECIALIST WHO SAYS WOMEN FACE A UNIQUE THREAT, ONE THAT'S BEEN OVERLOOKED EVEN BY SOME MEDICAL RESEARCHERS.

JESS>> DR. NIECA GOLDBERG IS A CARDIOLOGIST AND SPECIALIST IN CARDIAC REHABILITATION. SHE'S WRITTEN A BOOK OUTLINING HER THEORIES ABOUT PREVENTING AND HEALING HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN. IT IS CALLED "WOMEN ARE NOT SMALL MEN". INTERESTING TITLE, BUT DO WE TREAT WOMEN AS SMALL MEN?

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO HEART DISEASE, IT SEEMS THAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED A LESS IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR WOMEN AND THAT DOCTORS, IF THEY FINALLY DO DIAGNOSE A WOMAN HAVING HEART DISEASE, THEY USE TREATMENTS AND RESEARCH METHODS AND DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS THAT WERE ALL PROVEN ON MEN.

JESS>> BUT SHOULD THE TREATMENT BE ANY DIFFERENT FOR A WOMAN THAN IT IS FOR A MAN?

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> SOMETIMES IT SHOULD. FIRST OF ALL, WHEN IT COMES TO A HEART ATTACK, WHAT'S THE IMAGE THAT WE ALL HAVE IN OUR HEAD? A MIDDLE-AGED BUSINESSMAN CLUTCHING HIS CHEST. IT CRIES OUT HEART ATTACK. BUT WOMEN DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THOSE SYMPTOMS. THEIR SYMPTOMS MAY BE LESS SPECIFIC AND LESS WELL-KNOWN. THEY CAN BECOME INCREDIBLY BREATHLESS ON MINIMAL LEVELS OF EXERTION, UNUSUALLY FATIGUED, HAVE A SYMPTOM THAT'S SIMILAR TO INDIGESTION, SO THEY'D BE LESS LIKELY TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND GET MEDICAL ATTENTION.

I HAVE ONE PATIENT OF MINE WHO WAS HAVING UPPER BACK PRESSURE WHENEVER SHE WALKED UP A HILL. FINALLY ONE DAY, IT DIDN'T GO AWAY AND SHE LANDED IN THE HOSPITAL. YOU KNOW WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS THAT WOMAN THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN SHE LANDED IN THE HOSPITAL? NOT ABOUT HOW SERIOUS HER HEART ATTACK WAS, BUT THE FACT THAT SHE HAD TO PICK UP HER DAUGHTER FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE POINT I WANT TO HIT HOME IS THAT WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT MIDDLE-AGED BUSINESSMEN OR OLD WOMEN. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUNGER AND YOUNGER WOMEN EACH DAY HAVING HEART DISEASE.

VAL>> AND IT IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER AMONG WOMEN?

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> YES, IT'S THE NUMBER ONE KILLER AMONG WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 35.

VAL>> 35. THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> RIGHT. AND THOSE YOUNG WOMEN, WOMEN IN THEIR 20'S AND 30'S, ARE LEAST LIKELY TO THINK THAT HEART DISEASE IS A RISK.

JESS>> LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN, WE'LL TURN TO ESTROGEN. IS THAT A FACTOR?

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> ESTROGEN, FOR A LONG TIME, WAS THOUGHT TO BE ONE OF THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN HEART DISEASE BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT THE MAJORITY OF WOMEN HAVE THEIR HEART ATTACKS AFTER MENOPAUSE. THAT'S WHEN ESTROGEN LEVELS ARE LOWER. BUT I THINK RECENTLY WE'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN AWAY FROM THIS ESTROGEN BEING THE SOLE CULPRIT IN THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE WE FOUND THAT WHEN WOMEN GOT HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY, IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY PREVENT THEM FROM HAVING HEART DISEASE. IN FACT, RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WOMEN WHO HAVE HEART DISEASE, WHEN THEY'RE GIVEN HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY SHORTLY AFTER THEIR HEART ATTACKS, THEY HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF RECURRENT HEART ATTACKS AND EVEN DEATH.

VAL>> NO KIDDING.

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> THE GROUP OF WOMEN WHO DEFINITELY SHOULDN'T BE TAKING HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY ARE THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY HAD HEART ATTACKS, AND THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT DOCTORS HAD PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT. I THINK OFTENTIMES WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN'S HEALTH, DOCTORS ACTUALLY THINK OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY AS A ONE-STOP SHOPPING, AND WE NEED TO REALLY GET WOMEN AWAY FROM THAT THOUGHT.

VAL>> THERE'S ALSO A DIFFERENCE IN SURVIVAL RATES AMONG MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE HEART BYPASS SURGERY. I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT.

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> YES. WHAT WE FIND, IT'S NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF SURVIVAL RATES, BUT WOMEN SEEM TO HAVE MORE COMPLICATIONS AFTER BYPASS SURGERY AND INCREASED RISK OF STROKE. WE FIND THAT IT'S BECAUSE WHEN THE WOMEN FINALLY GET TO THEIR BYPASS SURGERY THAT THEY'RE MUCH SICKER THAN THE MEN. FIRST OF ALL, IT TAKES LONGER TO GET A WOMAN DIAGNOSED WITH HEART DISEASE BECAUSE THE SYSTEM ISN'T READY FOR IT. THEN OFTENTIMES WHEN WOMEN FINALLY COME IN, THEY HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES, THEY MAY HAVE HEART FAILURE. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A MORE COMPLICATED COURSE IN THEIR DISEASE.

JESS>> EARLY ON, MOST OF THE RESEARCH INVOLVED MEN. HAS THAT BEEN REVERSED?

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> YES. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT, IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, WE'VE CERTAINLY HAD AN INCREASED NUMBER OF RESEARCH TRIALS THAT HAVE INCLUDED WOMEN. I THINK WE JUST STILL NEED -- WE HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO, BUT IT'S VERY PROMISING THAT THIS IS GOING ON.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY COMING UP MORE AND MORE TODAY IS THE ROLE OF STRESS AND HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN. I THINK WOMEN THESE DAYS ARE MORE AND MORE STRESSED. THEY'RE BALANCING A LOT, JOBS, FAMILIES, THEY SIT IN TRAFFIC, SOME OF THEM ARE SINGLE PARENTS WORKING IN COMPANIES THAT ARE DOWNSIZING, SO THEY'RE WORRYING ABOUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.

ACTUALLY, HAVING VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER EITHER YOUR WORK OR YOUR HOME ENVIRONMENT ACTUALLY INCREASES YOUR RISK FOR HEART ATTACK. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO VERY OFTEN AS WOMEN IS TO HOLD IN OUR ANGER BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN VERY CONDITIONED TO DO THAT. WE DON'T SCREAM AND YELL AND THAT'S A BEHAVIOR THAT WE ALSO NEED TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE THAT IN PARTICULARLY INCREASES OUR RISK FOR HEART DISEASE.

VAL>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, WHAT ARE THE PREVENTIVE STEPS THAT WOMEN CAN TAKE IF WE'RE AT SUCH HIGH RISK? REDUCE STRESS, IF POSSIBLE.

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> REDUCE STRESS, WHICH MEANS -- WELL, GET ENOUGH SLEEP. I MEAN, I THINK WOMEN NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SAY NO. ALSO AEROBIC EXERCISE. WE ALSO ASSOCIATE THAT WITH WEIGHT LOSS AND JUST A HEALTHIER HEART, BUT IT ACTUALLY HELPS TO REDUCE STRESS. SO IF YOU HAD TO PICK ONE THING TO START WITH, I THINK THAT'S INCREASING YOUR ACTIVITY. ALSO WOMEN NEED TO QUIT SMOKING. THAT TRIPLES A WOMAN'S RISK FOR HEART ATTACK.

VAL>> TRIPLES?

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> THAT'S AN UNFORTUNATE BEHAVIOR THAT WOMEN CAME INTO LATER THAN MEN, BUT ACTUALLY THEY HAVE A HARDER TIME THAN MEN QUITTING SMOKING. OFTENTIMES THAT'S BECAUSE THEY SMOKE IN RESPONSE TO STRESS OR THEY MAY BE DEPRESSED. I THINK DOCTORS NEED TO BE MORE AWARE IN TALKING TO WOMEN ABOUT STRESS AND PICKING UP DEPRESSION IN PRACTICE.

JESS>> THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT WOMEN ARE MUCH MORE INCLINED TO SEEK THEIR DOCTOR THAN MEN ARE. WE'RE RELUCTANT -- IT'S A SIGN OF WEAKNESS IF WE GO TO THE DOCTOR -- BUT WOMEN ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO DO SO. BUT THAT ISN'T REFLECTED IN HEART DISEASE, IS IT?

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> WELL, WHAT HAPPENS IS, WOMEN DO MAKE FREQUENT VISITS TO THE DOCTOR, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE LESS SATISFYING AND LESS SUCCESSFUL. THEY'RE OFTEN NOT DIAGNOSED AS QUICKLY AS MEN. YOU KNOW, IT'S INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL TO THE NUMBER OF DOCTORS VISITS YOU MAKE. WOMEN GO TO THE DOCTOR MORE, BUT THEY'RE LESS HAPPY WITH THEIR DOCTOR'S VISIT.

VAL>> I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> YEAH, AND I THINK THAT IT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO HEART DISEASE. YOU NEED A DOCTOR WHO'S A GOOD LISTENER, SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU, BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH IN THE HISTORY, THE SYMPTOMS, WHETHER YOU HAD A FAMILY HISTORY, WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR DAILY LIFE, ALL CONTRIBUTE TO HEART DISEASE RISK, SO IT HAS TO BE SOMEONE WHO'S A GOOD LISTENER.

JESS>> DOES IT MATTER WHETHER THE DOCTOR IS A MAN OR A WOMAN?

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> WELL, NOBODY'S REALLY EVER PROVEN THAT (LAUGHTER), SO I REALLY CAN'T COMMENT ON THAT. BUT IT'S CERTAINLY IMPORTANT TO GET SOMEONE WHO'S MORE LIKELY TO LISTEN TO YOU.

VAL>> HOW ABOUT DIET? I MEAN, JUST SIMPLY GOOD EATING HABITS? THAT'S JUST SORT OF THE OBVIOUS THING WE SHOULD ALL BE DOING OR IS THERE SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR --

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> -- WELL, THAT'S OBVIOUS --

JESS>> -- BUT AGAIN, WOMEN ARE BETTER AT THAT THAN MEN, AREN'T THEY?

DR. NIECA GOLDBERG>> WELL, WOMEN ARE CERTAINLY BETTER AT DOING THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES. THEY OFTEN DO ALL OF THESE GOOD THINGS FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND LEAVE THEMSELVES BEHIND. NOW WE BRING THEM UP INTO THE FOREFRONT OF ALL THESE GOOD THINGS THEY DO FOR THEIR FAMILIES. IN TERMS OF DIET, THERE'S NOT ONE DIET OF THE DAY THAT SOMEONE CAN REALLY TAKE.

IT DOES TAKE GOOD COMMON SENSE. I THINK IT'S NOT ONLY WHAT YOU EAT, BUT HOW MUCH YOU EAT. I THINK THE FIRST STEP THAT I WORK ON WITH SOME OF MY PATIENTS IS TO CUT THEIR PORTIONS DOWN. THE OTHER THING IS THAT I FAVOR MORE OF A MEDITERRANEAN STYLE DIET THAT'S RICH IN OMEGA-FREE FATTY ACIDS AND FISH BECAUSE THOSE ARE PROTECTIVE TO THE HEART --

VAL>> -- I'M SO SORRY TO HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. NIECA GOLDBERG. WE SHOULD MENTION AGAIN THAT THE BOOK THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN IS CALLED "WOMEN ARE NOT SMALL MEN: LIFESAVING STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING AND HEALING HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN". THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

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VAL>> THE TOLL ROAD OPENED IN JULY 1891. IT WAS TEN MILES LONG AND CLIMBED TO AN ELEVATION OF NEARLY 5,000 FEET. IF YOU WALKED THE ROAD, YOU HAD TO PAY A QUARTER. IF YOU RODE A HORSE, THE FEE WAS FIFTY CENTS.

JESS>> AND THAT'S HOW EARLY TRAVELERS MADE THE TREK UP TO THE TOP OF MOUNT WILSON. IT WAS ATTRACTING VISITORS A CENTURY AGO BECAUSE OF THE VIEW AND THE COOL CRISP AIR, AND THEN CAME THE FIRST CARS. TONIGHT WE'LL GET A GLIMPSE OF WHAT SOME OF THOSE MOTOR TRIPS WERE LIKE TO ONE OF THE HIGHEST POINTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. OUR TOUR GUIDE IS MATT ROTH, HISTORIAN FOR THE AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE MATT ROTH FROM THE AUTO CLUB HERE WITH US AND THE SUBJECT THIS EVENING IS MOUNT WILSON. IN THE 1800'S, ESPECIALLY THE EARLY 1800'S, LOOKING UP AT MOUNT WILSON, IT WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE, I SUSPECT, THEN. PEOPLE MUST HAVE WONDERED ABOUT BUILDING ROADS, BUT THAT REALLY WAS A CHALLENGE, WASN'T IT?

MATT ROTH>> YEAH. WELL, THERE WAS A PATH THAT YOU COULD GET THERE VIA THE RIDGE TOPS THAT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED BEFORE STATEHOOD PROBABLY, PROBABLY BY THE EARLY INDIANS. WHAT REALLY GOT THE FIRST ROAD BUILT WAS THE FIRST TELESCOPE BECAUSE THEY HAD TO HAVE A WAY TO GET IT UP THERE. THAT WAS THE ROAD THAT BEGAN AROUND SIERRA MADRE AND WENT UP THROUGH LITTLE SANTA ANITA CANYON.

THE TELESCOPE BROUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE PLACE AND, OF COURSE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WAS GROWING, LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE COMING HERE, AND THE MOUNTAINS WERE A GREAT DESTINATION FOR A LITTLE VACATION OR EVEN A WEEKEND GETAWAY. THE WEATHER WAS COOLER, THE SCENERY WAS FANTASTIC, SO IMMEDIATELY A COUPLE OF CAMPGROUNDS WERE BUILT AND A SECOND ROAD WAS PUT IN. THIS ONE --

JESS>> -- NOT ANGELES CREST HIGHWAY (LAUGHTER).

MATT ROTH>> NO, NO, THAT'S MUCH LATER. THAT'S ANOTHER SHOW (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> MUCH LATER (LAUGHTER)

MATT ROTH>> (LAUGHTER) THAT'S THE END OF THIS SHOW ACTUALLY.

JESS>> NOW THIS IS THE NEW ROAD? THE SECOND ROAD?

MATT ROTH>> THIS IS THE SECOND ROAD, RIGHT.

JESS>> THROUGH EATON CANYON?

MATT ROTH>> THAT'S CORRECT. IT GOES UP THROUGH EATON CANYON. IT BEGINS JUST ABOVE ALTADENA. THIS IS THE AUTO CLUB ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, THE TWO-PERSON ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, IN THIS CAR SOMETIME MID TO LATE 1920'S.

JESS>> WE DON'T SEE ANY GUARDRAILS THERE.

MATT ROTH>> NO, NO.

JESS>> NO LANE MARKERS THERE, AND IT'S STRICTLY ONE LANE.

MATT ROTH>> IT'S TWELVE FEET WIDE AND THAT WAS QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT WHEN THEY MADE IT TWELVE FEET WIDE IN 1917, WHICH HAPPENED JUST SO THEY COULD GET A BIGGER TELESCOPE UP THERE, BY THE WAY. I THINK WHAT THEY'RE DOING HERE WAS SURVEYING THE ROAD AS A POSSIBLE LOCATION FOR ANGELES CREST HIGHWAY, WHICH OPENED ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AFTER THIS FILM WAS TAKEN.

JESS>> THIS FILM WAS TAKEN, WHAT, IN --

MATT ROTH>> -- LATE 20'S, I THINK. MID TO LATE 20'S.

JESS>> WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE NOW, OR JUST SAW, WAS A MAN WALKING AHEAD OF THE CAR. IS THAT BECAUSE OF TWO-WAY TRAFFIC?

MATT ROTH>> EXACTLY. WELL, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ROOM FOR TWO-WAY TRAFFIC. IF YOU MET ANOTHER CAR ON THE WAY, YOU'D BE IN TROUBLE. I THINK THERE'S A PIECE LATER IN THIS FOOTAGE WHERE YOU CAN SEE PHONE WIRES. THAT WAS THE OTHER THING YOU COULD DO IS CALL AHEAD AND MAKE SURE NO ONE WAS COMING DOWN AS YOU WERE BEGINNING TO GO UP. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK --

JESS>> -- TALK ABOUT A SWITCH-BACK. LOOK AT THIS ONE.

MATT ROTH>> YEAH, IT'S PRETTY TOTAL. THERE WERE MORE THAN A DOZEN OF THOSE ON THE WAY UP.

JESS>> THIS WAS ALSO PROMOTED BY PASADENA BUSINESSMEN, WASN'T IT?

MATT ROTH>> WELL, THIS ROAD WAS ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY BUILT AS A TOLL ROAD BY PASADENA BUSINESS PEOPLE AND BOOSTERS IN THE EARLY --

JESS>> -- YOU MEAN THEY PAID TO GO UP THERE? (LAUGHTER)

MATT ROTH>> YEAH, YEAH. IT ORIGINALLY WAS 25 CENTS TO HIKE UP AND FIFTY CENTS FOR A HORSE AND RIDER. OBVIOUSLY, THE CLIMATE CHANGE -- I THINK THE TOTAL ELEVATION CHANGE IS ALMOST 5,000 FEET. IN FACT, I WROTE IT DOWN, BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IT. 4,500 FEET ELEVATION OVER THE COURSE OF THIS TRIP.

I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS TOOK BECAUSE THE FOOTAGE THAT WE HAVE IN THE ARCHIVES IS CUT AND WE DON'T HAVE THE RAW FOOTAGE OR WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CALCULATE IT, ASSUMING THE CAMERA WAS RUNNING THE WHOLE TIME. BUT THERE WAS A RACE. THERE WAS AN AUTOMOBILE RACE IN 1922 AND THE WINNING TIME WAS A LITTLE OVER 22 MINUTES, WHICH STRIKES ME AS FOOLHARDY.

JESS>> WAS THAT GOING UP OR COMING DOWN? (LAUGHTER)

MATT ROTH>> (LAUGHTER) GOOD QUESTION, GOOD QUESTION. I'VE NEVER THOUGHT TO ASK THAT.

JESS>> THEY DID CAPTURE GREAT SCENERY THERE, AND THAT WAS NOT A SMOOTH SURFACE THEY'RE ON EITHER.

MATT ROTH>> IT WAS A SCRAPED ROAD. OBVIOUSLY THEY DIDN'T BRING IN ANY FILL. THEY JUST KIND OF SCRAPED IT DOWN AS BEST THEY COULD.

JESS>> THEY DID HAVE SOME BARRIERS, THOUGH. I CAN SEE THAT.

MATT ROTH>> YEAH. I THINK THIS STRETCH HERE -- THE AUTO CLUB SIGN, OF COURSE, --

JESS>> -- YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

MATT ROTH>> I THINK NOW IN THIS STRETCH THE ROAD WENT UP TO MOUNT WILSON AND THEN IT JOINED THE EARLIER MOUNT WILSON ROAD TO GO TO THE --

JESS>> -- THAT'S THE ONE THAT WENT UP THROUGH SIERRA MADRE.

MATT ROTH>> YEAH. IT JOINED THAT EARLIER ONE TO GO UP TO THE TELESCOPE AREA, SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING DOWN THROUGH THAT SADDLE AT THE END. ANYWAY, IT WAS QUITE AN ADVENTURE. I MEAN, THESE GUYS TREATED IT AS IF THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, BLAZING TRAILS ACROSS THE CONTINENT.

JESS>> NOW DO REMNANTS OF THIS ROAD STILL EXIST?

MATT ROTH>> OH, YES, YES. I'VE LOOKED AT IT FROM THE BOTTOM. I HAVEN'T TRIED TO TRACK IT DOWN FROM THE TOP, BUT APPARENTLY KNBC -- OR SHALL I SAY, ANOTHER NETWORK (LAUGHTER) -- HAS A TRANSMITTER UP THERE. RIGHT NEAR THE GATE OF THAT IS THE HEAD OF THIS ROAD.

JESS>> WE'LL NEVER COMPLAIN ABOUT ANGELES CREST HIGHWAY AGAIN (LAUGHTER).

MATT ROTH>> WOW, WHY WOULD YOU? IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

JESS>> OUR THANKS TO MATT ROTH OF THE AUTO CLUB. THANKS, MATT.

MATT ROTH>> THANKS, JESS. IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE BEING HERE.

VAL>> NOW YOU CAN STILL DRIVE UP TO MOUNT WILSON TO VISIT THE OBSERVATORY GROUNDS, BUT, SORRY, THE TELESCOPE IS RESERVED FOR ASTRONOMERS.

JESS>> THANKS FOR SPENDING YOUR TIME WITH US. NOW FOR EVERYONE HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, GOOD NIGHT AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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