Despite all the leaps the United States made in the past few years to cut ozone emissions, researchers found China's pollution is blowing into the Western U.S. and putting a dent in the progress.

The findings, published this week in the journal Nature Geoscience, show the ozone levels in the troposphere – the lowest level of the atmosphere– from 2005 to 2010. The study also said that the Chinese pollution has offset 43 percent of all efforts to reduce ozone in the Western U.S.

This picture taken on June 23, 2015 shows vehicles running along smog-covered streets in Beijing.

(STR/AFP/Getty Images)

"In a manner of speaking, to the West Coast of America,"lead researcher Willem Verstraeten of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute said in a statement.

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Ozone pollution, including asthma and respiratory infections, according to Clean Air Trust. Children and the elderly are especially at risk for these health issues.

The study blames rapid population growth and industrialization for the increase in ozone emissions. The pollution has become so severe that some scientists believe .

There is good news, however. China has been working on plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions in recent years, and . The country also plans , Think Progress reported.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: China's Smog Problem

A bus is seen at a toll booth on a highway as vehicles are forced to wait due to heavy smog in Jilin, northeast China's Jilin province on October 22, 2013. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)