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The combined health effects of ozone pollution and extreme heat disproportionately hurt poorer areas, according to a new study analyzing hospitalizations by ZIP code in California.
Wealthier ZIP codes and populations with better access to healthcare, lower stress levels and reduced car traffic faced were less vulnerable to negative impacts from heat and ozone, per research published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal.
Researchers opted to look at statewide effects by ZIP code because studies typically cover a large region or individual cities, explained Kristen Hansen, co-author and biostatistics PhD student at the University of California, San Diego. The research team identified hotspots in the Central Valley and along the U.S.-Mexico border, outside of the urban ozone spots that typically get more attention.
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