The Environmental Protection Agency lists six of the most common air pollutants which they say “...exist everywhere in the United States.” These air pollutants can be extremely dangerous to good health, and can pollute the upper atmosphere. They state that the environmental impacts of air pollution are numerous, including climate change due to global warming.
Types of Air Pollution
The EPA lists the following most common air pollutants:
- Ozone can be found at ground level or miles above the planet. Its effects can be negative or positive depending on its location in the atmosphere. Low level ozone in the lower atmosphere, or ground level, is negative because it creates health dangers as smog and contributes to the effects of global warming. Ozone is mostly produced by car exhausts and industrial emissions.
- Particle Matter can be produced by power plants, car exhausts, forest fires, and some industries. These particles are particularly dangerous to health because they fall into the category of fine particles 2.5 micrometer in diameter or smaller. Fine particles can pass through the throat and nose to the lungs causing breathing problems.
- Carbon Monoxide is an odorless gas formed from incomplete burning of fossil fuels. 56% of all emissions come from automobiles burning gas. The gas can be deadly when inhaled.
- Nitrogen Oxides are highly reactive gases. They can be odorless and colorless. The reddish-brown smog seen hanging over large metropolitan areas is attributable to nitrogen dioxide. A family of nitrogen oxides such as nitrogen dioxide, nitric acid, nitrous oxide, and other nitrates create smog at lower levels and acid rain at higher levels. Many health problems are related to these compounds.
- Sulfur Dioxide is formed by the burning of fuel containing sulfur. A major contributor is the burning of coal and oil. People who can suffer from this pollution are the elderly, children, asthma sufferers, and those with heart or lung problems.
- Lead is in some products including children's toys. Also, it can be found in the atmosphere due to the emissions of motor vehicles as well as some industrial emissions. Lead can be introduced into the atmosphere by the burning of waste. When taken into the body lead accumulates in bones. It can cause nervous system, kidney, immune, reproductive, and cardiovascular system problems.
Environmental Pollution
Forty years ago a group of scientists organized the Environmental Defense Fund. They were concerned about types of environmental pollution including air pollution. Today, they have a staff of chemists, engineers, physicists, and biologists. Their mission is to protect critical areas from pollution, and protecting wildlife habitats. The organization helps industry adjust to energy conservation. EDF says their “...top priority is to pass national legislation that caps global warming pollution, and creates a flexible clean energy emission trading market...”
Renewable Energy
The switch to renewable energy, such as wind power generators and solar energy, will take harmful chemicals our of the air, but any retooling is a major expense to industry. In support of industry the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website states that our air quality is not getting worse, and oil cannot be “...easily replaced by renewable energy.” They state that the many environmental regulations hurt business.
The Environmental Defense Fund works with industry, the Environmental Protection Agency regulators, and others to bring together business and organizations dedicated to protecting the environment. The purpose is so both sides can be heard for the purpose of reaching a compromise. The need to clean pollution out of the air is apparent to EDF. Although changes are costly for business restructuring to renewable energy, according to the Al Gore website and President-Elect Barack Obama's speeches, switching to renewable energy will create thousands of new jobs and help the economy recover.
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