Industries in San Diego emit cancer-causing toxins at one of the highest rates in California, reports the Voice of San Diego.
These industries haven't been required to make any changes because of a long-standing rule, until now.
On Thursday, November 4, the Air Pollution Control District unanimously voted to require industries to cut cancer-causing air toxins tenfold.
According to the Voice of San Diego, industries of polluted so much that the risk of contracting cancer for people living nearby has reached 100 in one million, which has been San Diego's cancer risk threshold rule for 30 years.
This means that if one million people are exposed to the same amount of pollution over 30 years, it's likely 100 people would develop cancer, according to Voice of San Diego writer MacKenzie Elmer.
Thursday's decision will require industries to bring down the cancer risk to 10 in one million or less.
General Dynamic's NASSCO in Barrio Logan recently reported a cancer risk of 53 in one million.
Now, these industries will have five years to meet new standards, with the opportunity for multiple three-year extensions. The new rule will also require them to frequently notify the public of their risk.