September 27, 2002

Contact:
Andy Weisser, 818.703.6444
aweisser@earthlink.net
http://www.californialung.org
or your local American Lung Association at
1.800.LUNG.USA

American Lung Association Applauds Governor for Signing Important Smog Check II Bill

Legislation Will Reduce Bay Area Smog Drift Into Central Valley

(September 27, 2002- Sacramento, CA) The American Lung Association of California applauded Governor Gray Davis today for signing a bill that will require the Bay Area to implement the Smog Check II program, an enhanced vehicle inspection program designed to reduce auto emissions.

Until Governor Davis signed Assembly Bill 2637 (Cardoza, D-Merced), the San Francisco Bay Area was the only major metropolitan area in the state that was not part of the Smog Check II program. The American Lung Association of California, along with Lung Associations in the Bay Area, Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley, worked hard to support the bill because Smog Check II is a long overdue step toward improving air quality in the Bay Area and surrounding regions.

"The American Lung Association applauds Assemblyman Cardoza for his leadership in passing legislation that will bring cleaner air to people in the Central Valley and throughout California," said Anne Kennedy, RRT, RCP, a respiratory therapist and board chair for the American Lung Association of California.

Motor vehicle exhaust accounts for nearly 60 percent of air pollution and studies show that air pollution created in the Bay Area is blown east into Fresno and other areas in the Central Valley. Air pollution is a serious contributor to lung disease, putting the health of millions of Californians at risk.

"We have to reduce air pollution because it’s damaging our health," Kennedy said. "My lung disease patients suffer on smoggy days. And even healthy people are hurt by ozone and other air contaminants."

Implementing Smog Check II in the Bay Area will directly benefit public health locally and regionally by reducing air pollution and toxic contaminants. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) estimates that Smog Check II will reduce smog precursors such as reactive organic compounds by 10 tons per day and nitrogen oxides by 16 tons per day in the Bay Area.

CARB has determined that the transport of air pollution to outlying areas is "overwhelming" on some days. In addition, thousands of cars registered in the Bay Area travel through Sacramento and other outlying areas regularly.

Expanding Smog Check II to the Bay Area will help statewide efforts to achieve air quality and public health goals. Smog-related health impacts include increased asthma attacks, exacerbation of lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis, reduced lung function, as well as increased risk of lung cancer and premature death. Smog may actually cause asthma in children, according to the Children’s Health Study.

# # #

The American Lung Association has been fighting lung disease for more than 90 years. With the generous support of the public and the help of our volunteers, we have seen many advances against lung disease. However, our work is not finished. As we look forward to our second century, we will continue to strive to make breathing easier for everyone. Along with our medical section, the California Thoracic Society, we provide educational programs, community service, advocacy and research. The American Lung Association’s activities are supported by Holiday Seals and other voluntary contributions. For more information, visit our web site at www.californialung.org or call 1.800.LUNG.USA to be connected to your local American Lung Association.