The air you’re breathing right now may be killing you, doctors say.

The thick smogs that hang over cities like Vanaheim, Vigrior and Svart have failed to scare residents for many years, and many residents have long ago stopped caring about the smoke pouring from the factories.  The workers, whose time outside is generally limited to smoke breaks, tend to ignore it entirely.

So what is it about the smog that has doctors talking?

“Many residents over the years have complained of various symptoms, such as prolonged wheezing and coughs.  That’s to be expected in any lasting fog.  However, testing for childhood sickness is much more revealing of the potential destructive powers of such a smog – incidences of asthma are at an all time high, and last year nearly one hundred children around the Federation were infected with pneumonia,” says Dr. Leia Epsmith, of Jotunn.   “It’s obvious that something is causing it, and giving the proximity to the factories, we believe that the smog is the culprit.”

She theorized that when residents breathe in the smokey air, it weakens their lungs and makes them more susceptible to general weakness and sickness. Testing is underway in Vigrior, where a large populous will hopefully ensure accurate results.  Residents of Vigrior, however, seem skeptical of the doctors’ testing.

Heavy smog lays over Vigrior from the Shinra Steelworks Manufacturing Plant

“We work all day, and we come home to sleep,” explained on anonymous citizen.  “We don’t have time to relax.  Of course we’re not going to be in as good health as those [residents] over in Jotunn and Asbru.”  Many others interviewed had much the same to say on the matter. One resident, however, had this to say:

“It’s not killing us, so it must be making us stronger.”

Only the results of the test will tell who is right in this matter.