New Ozone Attainment Standards to Generate Significant Public Health and Economic Benefits, Study Says

Pittsburgh, PA (July 14, 2006) - Moving from current national ambient air quality standards for ozone to the more stringent California standards will produce significant public health and economic benefits, according to a statistical study published in the July issue of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association.

The study was led by Bart D. Ostro, Ph.D., Chief of the Air Pollution Epidemiology Section at the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment in Oakland, CA.

Recent epidemiologic studies already show associations between ozone and a wide range of adverse health outcomes, including premature mortality, hospital admissions for respiratory disease, urgent care visits, asthma attacks, acute bronchitis, respiratory symptoms, and restrictions in activity. The new Ostro study, "The Health Benefits of Reduced Tropospheric Ozone in California," was designed to quantify the health and economic benefits of attaining the current federal standards and the incremental benefits of moving from these current national standards to the new California standard.

The researchers found that, for residents of California, attainment of their new 8-hour ambient standard of 0.070 parts per million (ppm), when compared to current levels of ozone in California, would result in the following annual changes, as derived from their interpretation of statistical analyses or inferences:

• 630 fewer cases of premature mortality;
• 4,200 fewer respiratory hospital admissions;
• 660 fewer pediatric emergency room visits for asthma; and
• 4.7 million fewer days of school loss.

Of these benefits, about half are attributed to moving form the current federal 8-hour standard of 0.08 ppm to the new tighter state standard of 0.070 ppm. Overall, the researchers found that reducing ozone from current levels in California to the state's new 8-hour standard would result in roughly $4.5 billion worth of health benefits per year.

"Our study shows that there are significant health and economic costs related to current exposures to ground-level ozone. These costs involve adverse effects, including both mortality and morbidity, that can be prevented through prudent public health policy, including attainment of California's new ambient standard for ozone," Dr. Ostro said.

Bart Ostro can be reached at the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment by calling (510) 622-3150 or e-mailing bostro@oehha.ca.gov.

The Journal is one of the oldest, continuously published environmental journals in the world, providing peer-reviewed technical research for more than 50 years. It provides those occupationally involved in air pollution control and waste management with timely and reliable information for use in improving environmental protection. The Air & Waste Management Association is a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional organization that provides training, information, and networking opportunities to thousands of environmental professionals in 65 countries. For more information, visit www.awma.org.