New Study Proves the More Particulate Air Pollution is Reduced, the More Life Expectancy Increases

A New England Journal of Medicine study released on January 22, 2009 proves reducing pollution leads to a longer life. The study compiled data on life expectancy, socioeconomic status, and demographic characteristics for 211 county units in the 51 U.S. metropolitan areas (including the SCAQMD region) with matching data on fine-particulate air pollution for the late 1970s and early 1980s and the late 1990s and early 2000s. The study concluded that reductions in air pollution accounted for as much as 15% of the overall increase in life expectancy in the study areas.

Since 1947, the SCAQMD and its predecessor agencies have made significant progress in cleaning the region's air in spite of dramatic growth in population and travel.

Full article is available at: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/360/4/376