California accounts for nine of the 30 cities nationwide with the most to gain from improved air quality standards, according to an analysis released earlier this month by New York University and the American Thoracic Society, a professional organization representing 15,000 physicians, researchers and other health professionals. Los Angeles and Riverside would see the most dramatic decreases in air pollution-related deaths.
Excessive pollution from two sources — ambient ozone and fine particulate matter — led to 9,320 deaths, 21,400 morbidities and 19.3 million impacted days, or days when an individual was absent from work, school, or other obligations because of health complications, researchers found.
Overall, improved air quality standards in California cities would prevent one-third of all avoidable deaths linked to pollution.
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