> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Air pollution from construction may lead to lung illness
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/air-pollution-from-construction-may-lead-to-lung-illness/
- Published: 2006-12-06T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T23:17:03.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Environment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

CITYWIDE — Residents of Santa Monica and surrounding communities are at a higher risk of developing life-threatening respiratory illnesses because of the increased level of development in the region, according to a report released Tuesday that measured the impact of construction-related pollution in California.

The report, released by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), estimated that in 2005, pollution created by dirty diesel engines in bulldozers and other heavy equipment was responsible for 700 premature deaths, 1,700 cases of acute bronchitis and close to 300,000 days of lost work and school absences in Southern California.

This loss of life and productivity cost south coast residents an estimated $5.9 million, according to the report “Digging Up Trouble: The Health Risks of Construction Pollution in California.”

The report used diesel emission studies by government agencies and combined city population densities with a statewide database of construction permits to come up with a “conservative” estimate of the damages to public health, said Don Anair,

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 6, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/120606.pdf?ref=smdp.com)