“We already know that climate change will bring us increased forest fires, shorter winters, hotter summers and impact our water supply,” said Mary D. Nichols, the agency’s chairman.
“Now we have scientific evidence that higher temperatures are hurting our lungs, too,” she continued.
The study conducted by scientists from the University of California at Davis and Berkeley reveals that ozone concentrations increase when maximum daytime temperatures rise, an event called climate penalty.
In a climate penalty scenario, ground level ozone and hazardous airborne particles increase in density as warmth climbs. Since global climate models point to warmer temperatures in the onset of climate change, heat-wave stricken California could expect harsher smog seasons.
Ground level ozone is formed by industrial and motor vehicle emissions, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents. These in turn are the primary components of smog.
High-concentration formations of ground level ozone generally occur in urban areas where the majority of such emissions are released. In the worst case scenarios, the largely urban state of California could suffer from an added six to 30 days more days of harmful ozone concentrations.
California is already known to have one of the most polluted atmospheres in the United States. In its 2010 State of the Air report, the American Lung Association revealed that 74 percent of the state’s counties got a failing grade in ozone pollution. Additionally, almost half of the state’s counties also failed tests for harmful 24-hour particle pollution.
Statistics reveal that 19,000 Californians die annually because of air pollution in California. About 9,400 more are hospitalized and over 300,000 are recorded to have respiratory ailments each year.
California’s San Joaquin Valley has one of the more polluted atmospheres in the state. A recent study claims that things could get worse in the area.
The scientists claim that peak concentrations of harmful airborne particles would spike in the San Joaquin Valley due to the effects of climate change on wind patterns.
«We must consider climate change and air pollution together as we plan for the future,” said Dr. Michael Kleeman, the study’s lead author.
