Air Pollution and Health

According to a study by California State University-Fullerton economists, air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley region costs $3.2 billion annually in medical bills, lost productivity and premature death. Researchers calculated the health and economic costs of the region's air quality, which is ranked among the worst in the nation. The study found that Latino and black residents were exposed to more days of air pollution than other residents in the eight-county area.

According to the researchers, the valley would save an average of $1,000 per resident annually if the air quality were brought to federal ozone and dust standards and the savings would double if the air quality met California clean air standards.

The report is available online http://business.fullerton.edu/centers/iees/reports/SJVFinalReport.pdf