Particulates in the Air Prove Hazardous for Californians
by Francine Hardaway
Published on May 30th, 2008
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According to a study reported in the Los Angeles times, small particulates in the air, like those caused by dust and soot, kill more Californians every year than AIDS, traffic accidents, and homicides combined.
There is a clear link between levels of the tiny particles – 2.5 microns or less, much thinner than a human hair – and cardiovascular deaths.
The American Cancer Society, in a study that monitored 300,000 people across the US, found that rates of heart attacks and strokes rise exponentially after exposure to higher than usual amounts of metal or dust in the air. USC did a similar study tracking just Californians. The California Air Resources Board has concluded that exposure to particulates can cut a person’s life span by up to ten years. Apparently, Hong Kong and Dubln have done similar research, which resulted in specific bans on coal and reductions in sulfur dioxide.
