Believe Your Eyes: Bad Visibility Can Mean Higher Death Rates

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Hong Kong's business district shown on March 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Does it look like a bad day to go out for a run? Maybe a little too hazy out there? Here’s a tip: It is. Don’t do it.

A study released today by Hong Kong University has found that lower visibility has a direct correlation with increased rates of mortality in Hong Kong. Researchers analyzed data on visibility and non-accidental mortality rates between 1996-2006, and found that for every four miles (6.5km) of loss in visibility, the increase in deaths by natural causes goes up 1.13%. Statistcally, that means that about 450 deaths could be associated with poor visibility each year.
Read more at TIME’s Ecocentric blog.