Short-term exposure to smog, or ozone, is clearly linked to premature deaths that should be taken into account when measure the health benefits of reducing air pollution, a National Academy of Sciences report said Tuesday. “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.”
