Air pollution levels that are considered safe will still shorten your life. Researchers at Harvard University studied 60,000,000 senior citizens and found that their long-term exposure to certain air pollutants increased their risk of premature death. Especially at risk are African Americans and low income communities. The researchers found the worst air pollution in Atlanta, Georgia. The Environmental Protection Agency says Atlanta meets the federal air pollution standards, but the new study argues those standards should be revised.
The study also found high air pollution levels in Los Angeles and the coal mining states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Illinois. The researchers said cutting air pollution nationwide by just a fraction could save 12,000 lives a year.
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