California Pollution = 3000 Deaths, $28 Billion Loss

AP Photo/Jerome T. Nakagawa

Confirming past reports that say pollution kills thousands of people, a Cal State Fullerton study released yesterday concludes that annually, the state economy loses $28 billion due to 3,000 premature deaths in the South Coast (Los Angeles region) and San Joaquin basins.

According to TreePeople founder Andy Lipkis at a Farmlab event last year, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) sent a request to the Governor and President to declare a state of emergency regarding the 5,400 environmental/pollution related deaths a year. "That equals out to be one and half 9/11's a year," he said. No action was taken.

It's also speculated that Mary Nichols, the chairwoman of the state's Air Resources Board, is being considered by the Barack Obama administration to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. But Obama transition spokesman Tommy Vietor declined to comment on the "speculation" to the LA Times. "People are playing Washington guessing games."