Cancer risk from pollution in S. California drops

Residents of Southern California are now at a reduced risk of developing cancer from air pollution, suggests a recently released report. The threat from air pollution has declined more than 15 per cent over the last decade, but the pollution levels are still alarmingly high in the region especially near ports and rail yards, along truck-laden freeways and in parts of the Inland Empire.

The study was conducted by South Coast Air Quality Management District. "This reduction in cancer risk shows that we are on the right track in tackling toxic air pollution," said AQMD Chairman William Burke. "However, the remaining cancer risk is completely unacceptable. Thousands of residents are getting sick and dying from toxic air pollution. Some of them live in low-income, minority neighborhoods that may be heavily impacted by cancer-causing air pollution."

Burke asserted that the health of Southern California residents must be improved and to do so it is important to constantly demand cleaner ships, locomotives, trucks and other sources of toxic air pollution.

According to health experts some 1200 of every one million residents will get cancer in 70 years time because of exposure to 30 common toxic substances. This is far above the acceptable standard which is 10 per million, say the scientists.

The areas of high risk include Burbank, downtown Los Angeles, Fontana, Huntington Park and Wilmington while Anaheim is safe with the lowest cancer risk.

The major contributor to cancer risk is the Diesel exhaust from ships, trains and trucks which alone accounts for 84 per cent of the total cancer risk posed by pollutants.

"I believe the 800-pound gorilla is the particulate matter from diesel emissions," said air district board member Miguel Pulido, who represents Orange County.

Efforts are being made to cut down the levels of air pollution and officials are already working on a plan to take it down by as much as 80 percent over the next five years.