Air Pollution

Kevin Roshanaie

Prof Petersen

PHL 375

June 1, 2012

Air Pollution

I believe that one of the most important issues facing our environment today is the issue of air pollution. We as an industrial society have become too familiar with the terms smog, carbon monoxide, lead, ozone. So many Americans who live in states across the US have experienced severe health problems cause from the air pollution these health problems range from Asthma, to Bronchitis, Allergies to Lung problems. We always hear from the news that people are getting sick from the air quality in their state. The US Dept. Of Energy has created regulations to minimize air pollution in states. Unfortunately some of the regulations that have been created are currently the center of heated debates between those who are concerned about human health and the environment and some of our lawmakers.

The federal government started pollution regulations in 1970 with the creation of The Clean Air Act. Since its creation it has undergone many new changes and updates but the purpose has still remained the same which is to protect the air quality of humans and to set air quality standards. The clean air act gives full authority to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and enforce National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The main job of the EPA is to monitor the emissions of the six major air pollutants ozone particulate matter (such as dust, dirt, smoke and pollen), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur, and lead. The clean air act also charges the EPA with the power to review the latest scientific studies regarding air pollution and the power to reaffirm or modify the standards whenever possible to protect the public's health. The clean air act was amended with stricter emission standards in 1977, 1990 and 1997.

As a result of the creation of the clean air act, the air quality in the United States has improved greatly. According to the EPA's 2012 air quality report the emissions of the six pollutants have decreased by 48 percent since the creation of the clean air act. According to the Earth Policy Institute, "In the United States air pollution each year claims 70,000 lives, nearly double the 40,000 traffic fatalities" (EPI). The deaths of people in the US who have been killed by air pollution are equal to those who have died from breast cancer and prostate cancer. People who die from air pollution do not show any kinds of physical symptoms like someone who got into a car wreck shows. The US may have bad air quality but China's air quality is worse than ours. In many cities around China breathing air is like smoking an entire pack of cigarettes a day. The illnesses that are caused from air pollution are the number one deaths in China.

In the United States today the air quality has improved because of emissions that have been set by the EPA. However there is still some air pollution in different parts of the US. Researchers are conducting research to find out how serious this pollution is and they want to also find out what illnesses we are susceptible to because of the pollution.

There are examples in the United States about how it has improved greatly on its air pollution standards. There is one state that would illustrate this point but if most you told most people they would probably not believe you at all. That is due to the fact that most people have a preconceived notion that this state is the greatest polluter in the nation. This state is of course the state of Texas. In a number of websites from the state of Texas proves that this is the case. A document from a Texas state website says this about how great the state of Texas is doing nationally about the air pollution problem it says this: "Texas is a national leader in reducing emissions and known pollutants, and advancing renewable energy sources all while remaining a leader in the nation's energy production. (Gov. TX ) So as a nation we are making significant progress with regards to the problem of air pollution. If the state of Texas can manage its air pollution problem and many people often viewed them as one of the worst offenders then why can't the rest of the nation? Many people believed that Texas was the worst of offenders due to the fact that America's Oil industry is thriving well and that the Texas regulations haven't scared them away to another state.

The State of Texas has proved that it is the leading state with regards to improving its air pollution. The state under its Republican governor Rick Perry in 2004 pushed an initiative by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality office. This initiative was a project by where the Texas state government agency, were to find pragmatic ways to approach fixing and or improving the problem of its air pollution. The initiative proposed a very unique method in combating the problem by using the latest in state of the art technology to oversee the management of air pollution. They started doing this first with the city of Houston when the pilot program began. This is what Governor Perry said about the aspirations of the program to fight pollution: "This week we are taking an important step to fight pollution, clean the air, and improve public health by activating a system of monitors in the Houston area that will allow regulators and industry to react almost instantaneously when a pollution incident is detected," said Perry. (Gov. TX)

The plan that this initiative has is remarkable in that it uses sophisticated techniques to resolve a problem as bad as air pollution. This is also a great model to go by to help states who are having problems trying to improve their air quality in their fight against air pollution. The important question to ask is have any of the other 49 of the 50 states heard and have caught on but also tried anything similar or the exact same thing, it's a good question to