Ozone Raises Lung-Disease Deaths

Even low levels of ozone can kill over time, new research shows. The study found that breathing ozone raises the risk of death from asthma and other lung diseases. The study lasted 18 years. It included nearly half a million people in 96 U.S. urban areas. Deaths from lung diseases rose along with ozone levels. The average increase was 4% for each 10 parts per billion of ozone in the air. Overall, ozone increased deaths from lung diseases 25%. Some California cities have very high ozone levels. The increase was 40% to 50% in those cities. The study appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Los Angeles Times wrote about it March 12.