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TOAR shows present-day global ozone distribution and trends relevant to health; public database

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Ozone levels across much of North America and Europe dropped significantly between 2000 and 2014. People living in parts of southern Europe, South Korea and southern Japan and China also experienced more than 15 days a year of ozone levels above 70 ppb. Source: University of Leicester. Click to enlarge.

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Study associates long-term exposure to air pollution with increasing emphysema

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Long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants, especially O 3 (ozone), is significantly associated with increasing emphysema, according to a new study led by the University of Washington, Columbia University and the University at Buffalo. The annual averages of ozone levels in study areas were between about 10 and 25 ppb.

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Study finds rising temperatures increase risk of unhealthy ozone levels absent sharp cuts in precursors

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Ozone pollution across the continental United States will become far more difficult to keep in check as temperatures rise, according to new work led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Ozone formation. Even short periods of unhealthy ozone levels can cause local death rates to rise.

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EEA report finds most Europeans in cities still exposed to levels of air pollution exceeding WHO guidelines

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The European Environment Agency’s (EEA’s) “ Air quality in Europe — 2019 report ” shows that almost all Europeans living in cities are still exposed to air pollution levels that exceed the health-based air quality guidelines (AQGs) set by the World Health Organization (WHO). About 8% of the urban population in the EU-28 was exposed to PM 2.5

Pollution 170
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EPA proposes approval of new ozone plans for the two of the worst Air Quality Zones in US: California’s San Joaquin Valley and South Coast

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US EPA Region 9 8-hour ozone trends, 1979-2000. These State Implementation Plans (SIPs) are the roadmaps to meeting the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 0.08 In 1997, EPA first established the 8-hour ozone standard, which replaced the older 1-hour ozone standard (0.12 Source: EPA.

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Latest GHG Inventory shows California remains below 2020 emissions target; much steeper rate of GHG reductions required

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The data shows a slight increase in overall emissions from the previous year, and a slight decline in emissions from transportation, which is the state’s main source of both GHGs and air pollutants. CARB has approved additional measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from super pollutants that must also be reduced significantly.

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MIT study says combustion emissions cause ~200,000 premature deaths/year in US; vehicles and power generation top sources

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1,000 to 21,000) deaths due to changes in ozone concentrations. 900 to 11,000) ozone-related early deaths per year. 300 to 4,000) ozone-related premature mortalities per year. 2000 (90% CI: 0–4,000) early deaths from ozone, according to the study. 53,000 (90% CI: 24,000–95,000) PM 2.5 related premature deaths and

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