A 1996 Natural Resources Defense Council report estimates that approximately 64,000 premature deaths from cardiopulmonary causes occur each year due to particulate air pollution (PM-10) across 239 American cities. The report ranks metropolitan areas by PM-10 concentration, attributable mortality, and mortality rate, with California cities like Visalia, Bakersfield, and Fresno topping the pollution charts. Note: this document addresses urban air quality and public health broadly and does not contain content specifically related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.Open full document
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A May 1996 report from the Natural Resources Defense Council estimating approximately 64,000 premature deaths from cardiopulmonary causes attributable to particulate air pollution annually across 239 American cities. The report provides tables ranking Metropolitan Statistical Areas by PM-10 concentration, attributable mortality, and attributable mortality rate, as well as identifying top pollution hot spots at individual monitoring stations. Data is drawn from official monitoring stations over the five-year period 1990 through 1994.