SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board today announced that Car Sound Exhaust Inc., a catalytic converter manufacturer, will pay a total of $560,000 for air quality violations.

All payments will be made to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, established to decrease air pollution through education and the advancement and use of cleaner technologies.

“There are instances where companies are not aware of ARB’s requirements,” said ARB Enforcement Chief James Ryden. “And while this doesn’t excuse them from complying, any company found in violation that cooperates to bring its products quickly into compliance scores a victory for public health.”

An industry-wide investigation by ARB revealed that Car Sound Exhaust sold, offered for sale, and/or advertised in California 3,982 non-California certified catalytic converters between January 2005 and March 2010.

Car Sound Exhaust must make monthly payments of $23,333 until March 2013. The company also agreed to set in place a comprehensive compliance plan so that no future violations occur.

Vehicles that do not meet California's tough emission requirements pose a real danger to residents. They create higher amounts of smog-forming pollutants, which can then exacerbate respiratory ailments and negatively affect other health conditions such as shortness of breath, headaches, birth defects, cancer or damage to internal organs.