Map: Pollution in Palos Verdes

How at risk are Palos Verdes residents from pollution compared to other cities in the state? According to the state officials, the city is in a little worse shape than the average California area.

Based on new state figures released this week, Palos Verdes' 90274 and 90275 ZIP codes are in the lower half of California zip codes in terms of being at potential for health risks stemming from pollution of all sorts.

The figures come from a new state report issued by the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) that compiles health risks based on 11 types of pollution and factors in seven categories of population and demographic factors, including poverty and education levels.

The purpose of the report is to identify communities that are eligible for grants from the state's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, according to Sam Delson, an OEHHA spokesman. The law governing that fund mandates certain percentages be spent on disadvantaged communities, making it necessary to include economic factors in the state report.

The state has a map of those communities that are eligible on the report website.

Unfortunately for Palos Verdes residents, only towns in the lowest 10 percent qualify.

The map above shows scores from each of those categories as well as overall rankings for every ZIP code in California. Simply click on any area to see the full report card for each ZIP code.

You can see more details of the report on the state's website.

In general, Palos Verdes fares badly in the low birth weight measures, while showing very good ozone and population rankings, particularly in education and poverty levels. Nevertheless, Rancho Palos Verdes scored poorly in the amount of cleanup sites, possibly due to the DDT deposit off the cliffs.