When researchers are California Stat University set out to asses the financial benefits of cleaning up the air in sunny southern California, they had no idea that their findings would make such a strong case. According to their research, not only could cleaning up SoCal's air save $28Bannually in health care and sick leave costs, but the number of deaths resulting from air pollution exceeded the number of vehicular deathsrecorded by the California Highway Patrol -- by a wide margin.Pulling data from hospital records in the San Joaquin Valley and South Coast Air Basin, there were 3,812 deaths attributed to "respiratory illnesses caused by particulate pollution" in 2006. Compare that with the 2,512 traffic fatalities recorded in the same area by the CHiPs. The study is definitely good ammunition to throw at those who believe that California "can't afford to clean up."
Herein lies the hang-up: the study also says that to achieve the economic and health benefits, both regions must reduce their particulate emissions by 50%. Needless to say, that's going to be an uphill battle.
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