Posts Tagged ‘air’
Air Pollution Control
Air Pollution Control
In 1955 the first laws were passed to help with air pollution control. The APCA (Air Pollution Control Act) was implemented by the Federal government in the United States. By that time in our society we already knew that there were serious problems with air pollution. This was especially true around the state of California. However, the Federal government had tried their best to stay out of such affairs but finally felt that they needed to take action.
The studies for APCA began in 1950 and indicated that the issues and concerns with air pollution were far more severe than had been initially realized. Ironically, there was plenty of money for the study, $15 million in all, but then no money in place by the Federal government to be able to help reduce the problems associated with air pollution.
The government did their best to allocate funds for a variety of projects that they felt would do the most good in controlling air pollution. For example in 1960 they began working closely with the Surgeon General to identify links between air pollution and various health concerns.
From that relationship stemmed that concerns over vehicle emissions causing high levels of air pollution. This was noted to be especially high in big cities due to the congestion of vehicles on a daily basis. In 1965 the Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act was implemented.
This was one of the major steps towards air pollution control. By 1968 new vehicles were offering more than 70% less emissions than they had in the past. Today almost all of the newer vehicles are very efficient in that area. However, the sheer volume of vehicles on the roads have significantly increased since the 1960s.
The Clean Air Act was implemented in 1970. It clearly outlined some clean air standards for society to follow. The biggest culprits of contributions to air pollution at that time were the factories. Industrialization has its benefits but the air pollution was a major concern. The laws required those businesses to take action to reduce pollution or they would be fined. Those that didn’t comply risked being shut down completely.
The needs of society continue to change and so do the laws about air pollution. In 1990 The Clean Air Act was further amended. It further addressed pollution issues that had fallen though the cracks before. At the same time issues such as major petroleum spills were something that had to be looked at.
Air Pollution Control and the Technology
Technology continues to come to our aid for advancing in the world. Yet at the same time it will continue to bring new issues about air pollution into the spot light. There are always ongoing studies to measure air quality and to see what can be done. The biggest barrier though is a lack of funding to help make adequate changes to significantly reduce air pollution problems.
There is also the issue that air pollution can’t be solely identified as the reason for various health problems. There are many other variables too including the diet of a person, their weight, if they smoke or not, and genetics. Isolating the factors that cause air pollution to make a person sick is virtually impossible.
The EPA and the Air Pollution Control
The EPA continues to be an advocate for helping to regulate air pollution control. They can be tough on industry that fails to comply. A big part of their efforts involves being able to offer education to the public about what they can do to reduce air pollution. The small steps by people individually can add up to huge changes in the quality of air for all of us.
Air Pollution Control.
Air Pollution Facts
Air Pollution Facts
If you don’t think that air pollution can really be a problem for you or your family then you need to read these facts. They will give you the full story on why we all need to be concerned about the problems. It is only when society works together to reduce air pollution that we can breathe easier.
Everyone is susceptible to air pollution but it is twice as likely to adversely affect those that live in major cities. The World Health Organization documents that at least 2 million people die annually as a result of air pollution related deaths.
Air Pollution Facts: Health
The increase in people diagnosed with heart disease and respiratory disease is directly linked to higher levels of air pollution. With heart disease being the number one cause of death in the USA it is certainly a serious situation that needs to be closely looked at.
The arteries in the body get hard due to a person breathing in high levels of emissions from vehicles. This can double the risk of a heart attack occurring for the average individual.
Jogging and running are believed to be very good forms of exercise for the heart. Yet when a person is jogging around traffic it can actually cause them to suffer from heart problems instead of helping them to be come healthier.
Studies show that Los Angeles California has one of the highest levels of air pollution in the world. The average person living there is three times more likely to suffer from chronic health problems than other places in the United States. These are air pollution facts!
On a daily basis each person will take in about 3,000 gallons of air according to the EPA. When there are dangerous particles in that air it reduces the quality of life for the individual. Children are highly susceptible to the same dangers of air pollution as adults.
The number of children in the USA diagnosed with asthma and bronchitis has tripled in the past 20 years. Experts believe this is due to the higher levels of air pollution that they are being exposed to on a daily basis.
Air Pollution Facts: Smog
Sometimes you can see air pollution such as when it is in the form of smog. Yet there are plenty that you can’t see such as the acid in rain, various chemicals, and extremely small particles. Vapors and gases may not be able to be smelled either so as you are driving or walking around you won’t even notice that you have been exposed to them as you breathe.
The ozone layer has been severely depleted due to air pollution. This is a serious matter because it means more UV rays are getting to Earth than before from the sun. This has altered the climate in many regions, making it extremely hard for many living things to continue to thrive.
Animals are adversely affected by air pollution as well. This includes both family pets and animals living in the wild. Veterinarians report very high numbers of the pets they work with suffering from heart and lung function problems due to air pollution.
The quality of air in a given location is addressed by the Air Quality Index. This is a way that people can compare the quality of the air from one location to the next. That information should influence where you live and even where you decide to take a vacation.
Reducing air pollution begins on a small level and then can be magnified to a global level. Small steps such as driving vehicles that are energy efficient, using less electricity, turning down the heat at home, and setting computers on sleep mode when you don’t use them can all help. These are air pollution facts!
Air Pollution Facts.
Effects of Air Pollution
Effects of Air Pollution
The effects of air pollution are huge in terms of how they affect the overall health of people. When you consider the millions of children and adults that suffer from some form of breathing difficulty it really should be a red flag that we have too many types of pollution in the air.
Asthma cases have skyrocketed in the past couple of decades due to air pollution. While it can be controlled this type of breathing problem results in particles bothering the airways and so they swell up. As a result the person finds it is harder to breathe. They may start to wheeze and have an asthma attack.
Upper respiratory problems are even more severe for adults that are over weight and who smoke. The contributing factors from air pollution make it extremely hard for them to be able to take in enough air. Then they find they struggle to have the air flow it takes to walk, to work, and to do a variety of daily activities. It can really limit their overall quality of life.
Effects of Air Pollution: Health Problems
Individuals with lung disease or heart disease are going to be severity impacted by air pollution. Since the overall level of chemicals and other particles in the air can influence the severity of the health symptoms and problems many doctor’s are telling their patients to move to a location with lower levels of air pollution for them to be exposed to if they want to do all they can to fight their health problems.
There are many experts who believe the variety of cancer we have in the world today can be connected to types of air pollution. They have done studies too in given areas that indicate where there are higher levels of air pollution there tends to be a higher number of deaths due to cancer and various breathing related health concerns.
The effects of air pollution don’t just cause long term health concerns either. They can affect a person short term. This is because there can problems with an abundance of pollution at a given time compared to normal. Many people that travel for work or leisure also find that they get exposed to high levels of air pollution.
As a result they may notice that their eyes and throat feel irritated. The nose may burn and feel sensitive when there is air pollution. Extended exposure can cause some serious health problems such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
There are plenty of people that seem to suffer from chronic fatigue. No matter how much rest they get they just feel that they don’t have enough energy. It could be due to the additional carbon monoxide in the air due to air pollution. Chronic headaches that some people suffer from are also believed to be caused by this factor.
Even though they have tried to change their diet, lifestyle, reduce stress, and other factors they continue to feel tired or have headaches that occur often enough to create serious issues for their health. However, they don’t make the connection that their air quality is likely to blame for how they feel. Even with medication they may find that they don’t get better until they move to a new location with less air pollution.
It can be very difficult to measure the true effects of air pollution. This is because the way in which it can affect a person can vary. Some individuals seem to have a high tolerance for it and others are very sensitive to it. This is why it becomes extremely hard to pinpoint and to blame air pollution for all of the different health problems that people may have that could be linked to it. These are effects of air pollution!
Effects of Air Pollution.
Air Pollution Causes
Air Pollution Causes
Air pollution has an array of causes and they have a profound effect on all of the different living things in our environment. Many of us don’t think about the various causes of pollution that we are associated with. Yet we have more control over it than we often realize. When you have information about where the air pollution stems from then you make choices to reduce it.
The emissions from vehicles including buses, semi trucks, and out own cars all contribute to the air pollution problem. If you live in an area with lots of traffic and congestion then the problem is going to be much worse than if you live in a region where there are fewer vehicles. Air pollution causes!
Carbon monoxide is a very dangerous toxin that is found from the emissions on vehicles and airplanes. They significantly result in huge amounts of air pollution being created on a regular basis. The smog that results has been linked to various forms of respiratory problems for people of all ages.
Air Pollution Causes and Global Warming
The other factor is that global warming due to holes in the ozone layer have been developed. The thinning elements of the ozone means that the UV rays from the sun are more severe than before. That can alter climates, increase the risk of skin cancer, and allow forms of air pollution such as bacteria to spread faster.
Fossil fuels are used to create coal, oil, and petroleum that we use for vehicles and for factories. These are non renewable resources that end up creating large amounts of air pollution. Even mining which helps use to have entities that we want for our society means that we are trading it off with large sums of air pollution in exchange.
What may surprise you is that the creation of electricity that we need for lights and to power our electronic devices is one of the largest contributors of air pollution out there. By cutting down on the amount of electricity that we use we can do our part to cut down on it. Implementing the use of solar energy is also a way to get the electricity without the environmental damages. Opening up curtains to allow the sun to come in during the day is also a great way to cut down on the amount of electricity used.
Many forms of air pollution are due to chemicals that are in dust. For example forms of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers that are in the soil then can be moved and enter the air when there are high levels of wind. This type of air pollution is very serious as it can allow spores to form and even get inside of buildings. This is especially true in areas with high humidity. Then spores of mold that can make people very ill can be forming and you won’t even know it.
Factories that create various forms of products are prime contributors to the problem of air pollution. They continue to push the envelope for mass production. Just about anything you can imagine that is offered in bulk is produced in a factory. This can include your favorite foods, clothing, and even automobiles.
Air Pollution Causes and My Contribution
We all have a huge responsibility to take a look at our own contributions to air pollution. By changing the items that we use, the resources that we consume, and educating others we can help to cut down on the problem. There are many organizations out there that are dedicated to helping improve the quality of the air we breathe. Joining them can help you feel good about your own contribution to cleaner air for tomorrow.
Photo author: Zakysant (Wikimedia Commons)
Air Pollution Causes.
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Types of Air Pollution
Types of Air Pollution
There are quite a few types of air pollution that the EPA has identified. In each of the categories they also have assigned levels of the threat each of them has on the overall environment. That impact is used to help them determine how they should proceed with trying to control and reduce that particular form of air pollution.
What has happened in our society is that as we use more technology such as for factories and vehicles we have increased air pollution. The number of flights daily is high when you think about the days when there were very few airplanes in the skies. Now it is a major mode of transportation but that means more air pollution.
We do rely heavily on the production of large industries. They offer jobs, help the economy, and ensure that consumers can get what they want with ease. Yet the price that is often paid for that is high levels of air pollution. Even though they have tried to use technology that helps to reduce it the sheer volume of production and the number of such industries means that air pollution problems continue.
Types of Air Pollution: Like a Poison
Carbon monoxide is a type of poison and it is a very serious form of air pollution. With the high number of personal vehicles, business vehicles, and public transportation out there this is what has allowed so much air pollution to occur. Today there are emission laws that require vehicles to pass an inspection. If they release too much carbon monoxide then they can’t be used on the roads.
The newer vehicles offered today release far less emissions than those that are several decades old. However, when you think of the overall number of vehicles on the roads every single day the level of air pollution can be at an all time high. Try to find fuel efficient vehicles too. Not only with they save you money at the pumps but that will result in less air pollution being created.
The EPA has done what it can to help reduce air pollution. They have established guidelines in place that limit the output of various types of air pollution. One of the ways they have done so is through The Clean Air Act. This was established to help bring lots of attention to the issue.
The EPA has taken a great deal of time and energy to help educate the public about the different types of air pollution. They want people to see the value of being able to reduce the emissions. The Federal government offers tax incentives to businesses that take efforts to reduce air pollution above what the EPA requires. Even individuals can get tax incentives for buying hybrid vehicles.
Me and The Types of Air Pollution
You may be wondering what you can do to help reduce these types of air pollution. First, support the efforts of those businesses and industries that are taking effective measures. When they have to pay to reduce air pollution they should get the loyalty of consumers over their competitors who aren’t going that extra mile.
If you drive an older model of vehicle try to trade it in on one that offers fewer emissions. You can also consider car pooling, buying a hybrid vehicle, and walking or riding a bike when possible instead of operating your vehicle. The more you can save fuel the better.
What do you set your thermostat on at home? If you reduce it by a couple of degrees you will be able to significantly reduce the amount energy that your home appliances take. Turning off lights when you don’t need them will also reduce air pollution. Reduce the different types of air pollution!