California's economy loses about $28 billion annually in health-related counts because of the negative effects of air pollution around Los Angeles and in San Joaquin Valley, according to a new report.

The report examined the costs of air pollution in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley, two areas where the quality of the air is the worst in the country. Most of the heath-related costs caused by pollution are attributable to roughly 3,000 smog-related deaths each year, including premature deaths and incurable illnesses linked to dangerous particulates and ozone. Studies have connected ozone and particulate pollution with asthma and respiratory problems and with an increase in cardiovascular problems.

The findings of the report conducted by researchers at California State University-Fullerton were presented Wednesday as the California Air Resources Board was scheduled to vote Dec. 11 on whether to adopt broader rules that would force more than 1 million heavy-duty diesel truckers to install filters or upgrade their engines, a move that could cost 170,000 business owners $5.5 billion.

“For decades there has been a tug of war over what to do about air pollution,” said Jane Hall, lead author of the study at Cal State Fullerton. “We are paying now for not having done enough. Either we pay to fix the problem or we pay in loss of life and poor health,” Hall added.

If the situation was to improve in order to reach federal standards, the researchers estimate residents of the two air basins would suffer 3,860 fewer premature deaths, 3,780 fewer nonfatal heart attacks and would miss 470,000 fewer days of work annually, 1.2 million fewer days of school absences; 2 million fewer days of respiratory problems in children and 2,700 fewer hospital admissions. The study says that particulate pollution levels must fall by 50 percent in both regions for health and economic benefits to occur.

Microscopic particulates discharged from tailpipes, factory smoke stacks, diesel trucks and equipments are considered the most lethal forms of air pollution because they can penetrate through the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Exposure to these particulates has been linked to severe asthma, premature deaths from heart and lung disease, cancer.

The most polluted areas around the state include the South Coast, the San Joaquin Valley and the San Francisco Bay air basins.

Last month, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strengthened the nation’s air quality standards for lead, improving this way public health protection. The new standards imposed by the EPA reduce the allowable lead level 10 times to 0.15 micrograms of lead per cubic meter (ug/m3) of air. The Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee recommended 0.02 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air. The EPA estimates that the cost of reduction would be between $150 million to 2.8 billion, but the standard would produce economic benefits of $3.7 billion to 6.9 billion.