NAS says Bush wrong about smog, ozone exposure

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Contradicting Bush administration claims, a National Academy of Science review concludes short-term exposure to smog, or ozone, is clearly connected to premature deaths and should be taken in account when measuring the health benefits of clean air.

The report released Tuesday by a panel of the Academy's National Research Council says government agencies "should give little or no weight" to such arguments.

"The committee has concluded from its review of health-based evidence that short-term exposure to ambient ozone is likely to contribute to premature deaths," the 13-member panel said.

It added that "studies have yielded strong evidence that short-term exposure to ozone can exacerbate lung conditions, causing illness and hospitalization and can potentially lead to death."

The panel examined short-term exposure ¢w up to 24 hours ¢w to high levels of ozone, but said more studies also were needed on long-term chronic exposure where the risk of premature death "may be larger than those observed in acute effects studies alone."

While premature deaths from ozone exposure is greater among individuals with lung and heart disease, the report said such deaths are not restricted to people who are at a high risk of death within a few days.

Environmentalists and health advocates have argued that a string of health studies and surveys show that exposure to smoggy air not only aggravates respiratory problems, but annually causes thousands of deaths.

(Agencies)