California facilities will face new requirements to reduce toxic emissions or notify their neighbors of the health risks from their operations under new rules approved Friday.
The move by the local air pollution agency follows new guidelines from state environmental officials that estimate the cancer risk from toxic air contaminants is nearly three times what experts previously thought. Revised air toxics guidelines resulted from scientific studies over the last decade that show young children and infants are more sensitive to toxic air pollutants.
The changes will cost businesses about $1.9 million a year.
"We need the government to update their regulations to better protect our communities, families and children," said Adrian Martinez, a lawyer for the environmental law nonprofit Earthjustice.

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