The White House has routinely downplayed or denied the connection between premature death and exposure to ozone and smog.  Lack of scientific proof of the theoretical connection is the administration’s reason behind the attitude.

But a team of researchers at the National Academy of Sciences released a report on Tuesday that refutes the government’s argument by revealing exactly the scientific proof that has been lacking.

Ozone, a component of smog, is created when fossil fuels are burned, as when operating motorized vehicles such as automobiles and lawn equipment.  It is responsible for the hazy yellow cloud that frequently blankets cities and is a major cause of respiratory distress that is particularly dangerous for children, the elderly, and anyone of any age who suffers from additional respiratory issues.

Ozone exposure is more likely to cause premature death to individuals suffering from heart and lung diseases but can also be lethal to an otherwise healthy individual when the period of exposure spans even a few days.

For study purposes, only short-term (acute) ozone exposure was examined and defined as 24 hours or less.  Chronic, or long-term, exposure was not evaluated but the research suggests a higher risk of premature death the longer the exposure.

Air quality has been an issue hotly debated between advocates for health and the environment, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), responsible for reviewing regulations concerning the environment.

The OMB is currently in the process of reviewing air quality standards and has expressed skepticism over the idea of smog exposure leading to premature death.  They claim reluctance to include premature death as a result of smog exposure in order to minimize its adverse impact, especially since there has been concrete scientific evidence to support that theory.  If the government deems smog to be of little significant concern to the population’s health, measures to control exposure will be minimal.