Products for Clean Air and Energy Efficiency

Air Pollution Basics
Posted by: IwantCleanAir -- Aug 13, 2005

Air Pollution

Overview  —  Electricity  —  Transportation

Overview

Air pollution has unhealthy effects on people, animals and plant-life across the globe.

Every time we inhale, we carry dangerous air pollutants into our bodies. These pollutants can cause short-term effects such as eye and throat irritation. More alarming, however, are the long-term effects such as cancer and damage to the body's immune, neurological, reproductive and respiratory systems.

Children, due to their size and the fact that they are in the process of developing, are at greater health related risk.

Air pollution is not just a "city problem." Many air pollutants are dispersed over areas hundreds of miles from their source where they affect many different ecosystems. These pollutants often remain toxic in the environment for a very long time where they continue to affect ponds, streams, fields and forests.

Most air pollution is the result of energy consumption. Specifically, the burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity or to power transportation vehicles is the main cause this serious, but preventable, environmental hazard.

Acid Rain is a significant air pollution problem that affects rural, suburban and urban areas that are down-wind of major industrial areas. Acid rain is caused when sulfur and nitrogen pollution from industrial smokestacks is combined with moisture in the atmosphere. The resulting rain is acidic which destroys natural ecosystems ands buildings.

Global Warming is happening now and affects everyone. As pollution gathers in the Earth's atmosphere, it traps heat and causes average temperatures to rise. It is hard to predict exactly how climate change will affect a particular area. Here are a few likely results (according to the Union of Concerned Scientists):

a rise in sea level between 3.5 and 34.6 in. (9-88cm) leading to more coastal erosion, flooding during storms and permanent inundation

severe stress on many forests, wetlands, alpine regions, and other natural ecosystems

greater threats to human health as mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects and rodents spread diseases over larger geographical regions

disruption of agriculture in some parts of the world due to increased temperature, water stress and sea-level rise in low-lying areas such as Bangladesh or the Mississippi River delta.

There are many ways that you can take personal action to help eliminate air pollution. Your participation in the IwantCleanAir website is one way to have a positive impact. Using energy more efficiently and switching to alternative energy sources (such as solar and wind) are ways that you can lessen the burden that you place on the environment. Writing letters and making your voice heard can change the way government and business approach air pollution problems. Find out more in Your Role.

Electric Utilities and Air Pollution

Depending on where you live, your utility will use some amount of non-renewable fossil fuels to generate electricity. These fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, emit pollution when burned at power generation facilities.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, "burning fossil fuels for electricity generation is the single greatest source of air pollution in the United States." The electricity generation process produces many dangerous pollutants including nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons, dust, soot, smoke, and other suspended matter. These pollutants can cause serious health problems, including early death.

A sane energy plan, that moves America toward renewable energy will benefit the entire planet. Support federal legislation currently under consideration.

Transportation and Air Pollution

Motor vehicles are a major source of air pollution. Emissions from cars and trucks contribute to global warming as well as causing acute health problems.

Extracting, transporting and storing transportation fues (gasoline) also pollutes the land and seas.

To reduce our direct impact upon the planet, we can choose alternative modes of transportation. If we must drive a gasoline-powered motor vehicle, there are some simple things that will minimize our impact on the environment.

One significant source of pollution in urban, suburban and rural areas is the diesel engine. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, off-road diesel powered vehicles, such as tractors and bulldozers, typically emit as much pollution as 26 automobiles.

Diesel school buses are a particularly vexing problem because they are operated in the vicinity of children. Generally, children are at greater risk of health effects from pollution due to their relatively lower body weight and the fact that their biological systems are still developing.