SACRAMENTO - Today the California Air Resources Board announced the winners of the 2010 Haagen-Smit Clean Air Awards, the premier award from state government recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions toward improving air quality.

"Each of these three individuals has made a distinguished and lasting mark on California's environment,” said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. “Whether in the fields of policy, research, or the development of breakthrough technologies, they have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to protecting the environment and public health.”

The 2010 Recipients are:

• Dr. Joan Denton, former Director of the State Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment- Dr. Denton served at the California Environmental Protection Agency for 13 years and was recognized for her work in the area of environmental policy. She performed scientific risk assessments for chemical regulations and informed government agencies, as well as the public, on the health and environmental risks of chemicals. She was also instrumental in identifying diesel particulate matter, environmental tobacco smoke, and lead as toxic air contaminants. Dr. Denton oversaw the implementation of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 also known as Proposition 65.  
   
• Dr. Bradley Edgar, President of Cleaire Advanced Emissions Controls, LLC- Dr. Edgar is the co-founder and chief technology officer of Cleaire, a San Francisco based company that develops advanced retrofitting technologies to reduce particulates and nitrogen oxides from the exhaust of diesel engines. He was recognized for his work in the area of science and technology. Currently more than 13,000 Cleaire diesel retrofits are in commercial use, dramatically reducing fine particles and smog-causing chemicals from polluting California’s air.
   
• Dr. John Froines, Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health- Dr. Froines holds a variety of positions in health sciences and toxicology programs including chairman of California’s Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants, and director of the Southern California Particle Center and Supersite. Dr. Froines served as director of UCLA’s Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences for 25 years and was deputy director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health before coming to UCLA. He was recognized for his work in the area of environmental health research. Dr. Froines’ research includes the biochemical mechanisms of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects from particulate matter in air pollution. His findings have enhanced the understanding of toxic air contaminants as well as their impacts on public health. In addition, his dedication to translating scientific and technical information into a format that is accessible to decision makers has contributed to informed public policy and significant achievements in improving public health at both the national and international level.

The Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award was named after Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit, ARB’s first chairman, known to many as the “father” of air pollution control. His research concluded that most of California's smog resulted from photochemistry –the reaction of sunlight with industrial and motor vehicle exhaust to create ozone. This breakthrough became the foundation upon which today's air pollution standards are based.

For a list of all past award winners, visit:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/hsawards/hscleanairawards2001-2010.pdf

To learn more about the award or to make a nomination see:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/hsawards/hsawards.htm