Is there such a thing as salt air?

[Kuan]

Is there? People claim that living near the coast results in their cars rusting out faster than normal. It's the "salt air." Is there really heavier than air sodium chloride floating around in Santa Monica? If not, why cars rust out faster than normal? Or is that a myth?

[Rick Miley]

You bet there is. Just look at window frames and balcony railings of high-rise buildings on the beach. They get really nasty very quickly.

[Rick Miley]

I wouldn't want to mess with either one. But I think that cars living near the coast have more visible rust, while northeastern cars tend to have more invisible rust. So it is harder to see what you're getting with those. I'd add that, at least in Florida, the salt air thing doesn't extend very far at all from the shore. Maybe a mile or two tops.