California's dirty air led to nearly $200 million in hospital spending over a three-year period because of asthma, pneumonia and other pollution-triggered ailments, according to a study by the Rand Corp.

The study analyzed records from hospitals and air quality agencies from 2005 to 2007. As many as 30,000 people statewide sought relief in emergency rooms because of air pollution during that period.

"California's failure to meet air pollution standards causes a large amount of expensive hospital care," said John Romley, the study's lead author.

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