Los Angeles and Central Valley smog cause more deaths than car accidents
A simple $90,000 study found that more deaths in two major regions of California are caused by respiratory illness stemming from particulate pollution in the air than from car crashes. The study, conducted at Cal State Fullerton analyzed the data already on record for two of the state’s major air pollution centers– the San Joaquin Valley and the South Coast Air Basin. These two regions– basically the southern half of the agricultural Central Valley and the Los Angeles basin, are notorious for particulate pollution.
The study concluded that by just meeting federal ozone and particulate standards in these two regions, $28 billion would be saved annually from premature deaths, missed work, and other health related costs.
According to the California Highway Patrol, in 2006, 2,521 people were killed in car accidents in these regions. This is compared to 3,812 deaths attributed to respiratory illness stemming from particulate pollution.
Only Houston approaches the same levels of air pollution as these two California regions.
This report also comes at a time when California is having to fight the federal government just to enact cleaner air laws at its highly polluted ports.
Hat-tip: AutoBlogGreen
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Comments
One Comment on Los Angeles and Central Valley smog cause more deaths than car accidents
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Clean Air Smog on
Sun, 23rd Nov 2008 7:27 pm
Wow. $28 billion saved. I didn’t know air pollution in LA is that serious that it causes that much number of deaths. What’s happening to our earth? It’s becoming scary. . .
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