Health Network for Clean Air

NEWS RELEASE:
American Lung Association of California Urges Tough, New Global Warming Regulations to Improve Public Health --Public Opinion, Health Professionals and Thousands of Public Letters Reflect Strong Support for Landmark Regulations

Statewide public health organizations band together to urge CARB to support strong greenhouse gas regulations

Purpose

The American Lung Association of California (ALAC) is launching a new project to build a network of health organizations in California interested in air pollution issues and related advocacy efforts. Through this effort, it is hoped that the health community will strengthen its impact on the public's understanding of air pollution and health, and positively impact policy makers' decisions. This project is being underwritten by a grant from the Energy Foundation.

Goals

ALAC is working to build a public health network on air quality and health issues. We are also developing materials and outreach programs to inform public health leaders and statewide public health groups of the most recent scientific findings demonstrating the detrimental health effects of air pollution. By working with statewide healthcare organizations to create an ongoing outreach plan, this project will keep public health groups informed of new, emerging information and will generate the most effective ways to alert participating organizations of advocacy opportunities throughout California.

Air Pollution: A Growing Health Problem in California

Although air quality in California has improved significantly over the past few decades, Californians still breathe the worst air compared with the rest of the nation. Emissions from on-road and off-road vehicles, industrial combustion sources, agricultural equipment, consumer products and many other sources contribute to California's poor air quality. In addition, global climate changes have resulted in hotter days in urban areas and elevated ozone levels during summer months. Air pollution is known to have serious health impacts including reductions in lung function, lung tissue damage and worsening of lung diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis and asthma. Elevated particulate levels have been linked to lung cancer and have recently been found to contribute to 6,500 premature deaths and 350,000 asthma attacks annually statewide. Recent research has linked exposure to ozone in southern California children with increased school absences due to respiratory illnesses, and for the first time, has linked elevated ozone levels with the onset of asthma in children. For these reasons, among others, the American Lung Association of California is asking health care professionals to band together to keep air quality standards strong.