 I came across this informative article in Business Week and thought you'd enjoy it too. It highlights cities who've decreased their smog levels have saved millions of dollars and improved the health of their citizens.
Congratulations to these 15 cities for tackling their air quality: Orange County, CA; Seattle, WA; San Diego, CA; Houston, TX; Tacoma, WA; Riverside, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Atlantic, City, NJ; New London, CT; Portland, OR; Chico, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; Jersey City, NJ; Portland, ME; Ventura, CA. Smog - Air Pollution Enemy #1 Smog is one of the country’s most widespread and damaging air pollutants, but thanks to the 1990 Clean Air Act, many cities (especially in California) are making significant strides in improving their air quality. Between 1990 and 2005, smog levels (ground-level ozone concentration) dropped 9.2% on average in the metro areas in which the EPA monitored these data. Not too shabby. Evidence from Atlanta Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta allowed researchers at the CDC a rare opportunity to observe the impact of smog on respiratory health. During the Olympics, Atlanta implemented a number of measures to reduce traffic, including providing 24-hour public transportation, adding an additional 1,000 city buses to its existing fleet, and closing downtown streets to all but public transportation vehicles. In the two-week period, the study found that smog levels dropped by more than 25% and Medicaid expenses for asthma were cut by 40% as hospitalizations for asthma attacks decreased. Clean Air = Cost Savings & Health Benefits According to the EPA, cleaner air will save billions of dollars in health care and welfare costs. Using computer models and emission and cost data, the EPA has estimated that in 2010 the benefits of Clean Air Act programs due to decreased illness and fewer premature deaths will total roughly $110 billion, while the costs of achieving these benefits will be only about $27 billion. In addition, the EPA says by 2010 the amendments of 1990 will have prevented 23,000 premature deaths, 1.7 million incidences of asthma attacks, and 4.1 million lost workdays. Now that’s impressive! California Leads in Reduction Rates Out of necessity, California has been spearheading the effort to decrease smog and other air pollution. Due to traffic and a sunny climate that breeds smog, California cities aren't known for their clean air, but they now lead the nation in smog-reduction rates, thanks largely to regulations on tailpipe emissions. Orange County and San Diego, the Riverside, Los Angeles, Chico, Santa Barbara, and Ventura metro areas have all seen smog levels drop more than 25% since 1990. "Nine out of 10 Californians breathe polluted air," says Jerry Martin, a spokesperson for the California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board. "We don't have the luxury of being light on pollution." By 2024, the CalEPA projects that all of the state will be in compliance with federal ozone standards. But they are working on environmental problems across the board, Martin says. Next up is that "other" smog problem—global warming. To see a roundup of America's most cleaned-up metros, click here for the slide show. by
Erin Swanson
ESwanson@enviance.com | 
