Long-Term Mortality Effects of US Air Pollution.

A study conducted by Tatyana Deryugina and Julian Reif examines the long-term effects of exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2) on mortality rates in the United States. The researchers use data on death records and air pollution levels from 1972 to 1988 to calculate the variation in county-level SO2 levels resulting from wind-blown regional pollution. They find that acute exposure to SO2 leads to an immediate increase in mortality rates among frail individuals with short life expectancies, as well as an accelerated aging effect among healthier individuals. The study suggests that a permanent decline in SO2 levels could increase life expectancy by about 1.2 years. [Extracted from the article]