Breath of fresh air: A report shows the living benefits of pollution curbs
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A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine reaffirms a belief held as common sense by many people: People's health improves as the quality of the air they breathe improves. They even live longer.
This can't be said often enough. Too often environmentalists are portrayed as spoilers who care little for economic vitality, who love trees more than people. Misconceptions fed by these stereotypes have echoed in Pennsylvania in efforts to resist curbing industrial pollution or introducing tougher emission standards for vehicles.
But pollution takes its toll on people, as this federally funded study makes clear. "Fine-Particulate Air Pollution and Life Expectancy in the United States" was conducted by researchers at Brigham Young University and the Harvard School of Public Health.
The study's lead author, Dr. C. Arden Pope III of Brigham Young, acknowledges that other studies have provided evidence that air pollution is a risk factor for respiratory and cardiovascular disease, but "this is the first study that provides direct empirical evidence that long-term reductions in air pollution contribute to significant, measurable increases in life expectancy."
How significant? In the 51 urban counties studied, life expectancies rose by an average of approximately 2.74 years from 1980 through 2000. The four-county Pittsburgh area gained 3.4 years.
While other factors also help to increase life expectancy, Dr. Pope said the study's findings do show that pollution control efforts to limit airborne particles have paid off.
The bottom line is anyone who grouses about curbing airborne pollution can thank those dedicated to the task. The grumblers have been given more years in which to complain.
First Published January 26, 2009 12:00 am
