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Everywhere you turn, people smoke cigarettes, cars let out exhaust, and factories cough up thick, black smoke. Smoke and other chemicals a lot of us use everyday are hurting our air, and it's hurting us too. Air pollution is contamination of the atmosphere by gaseous, liquid, or solid substances that can endanger the health and welfare of humans or other living things or can attack material, reduce visibility, or produce undesirable odors. Although governments around the world have been trying to fix the damage we've done with Clean Air acts, air pollution continues to be a major issue. It may seem like an impossible task, but there are small steps we can take everyday to prevent air pollution; making the air cleaner for future generations.

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When we think of air pollution, most of us will envision cigarettes and car exhaust. Although these and other man-made pollutants do have quite an impact, they are not the only things polluting our air. Contrary to popular belief, air pollution is not only caused by humans. Natural causes, such as wild fire, volcanic eruption, and radon gases emitted from the Earth cause air pollution as well. Even our furniture can pollute the air with the chemicals they contain and the ones used to clean them. Other main sources are emissions from industrialized areas (such as sulfur dioxide) and electric power plants burning coal and oil.
 * What causes air pollution? **



Each year industrially developed countries generate billions of tons of pollutants, which in heavy concentration can cause respiratory illness and even death. The severity of this issue was demonstrated in 1952 when 3500 to 4000 people were killed by pollution in London, and that wasn't the only case either. Air pollution can be harmful to us even in low concentration, and those especially at risk are the young, the elderly, and people who work in polluted areas. Inhalation of toxins such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide can cause impaired mental alertness, wheezing, lung impairment, and aggravation of existing conditions. As you can see, polluted air can take an enormous toll on our health.
 * How does air pollution affect humans? **

Polluted air damages the natural balance of things as well. Let's take factories, for example. The smokestacks used by factories send pollutants higher into the atmosphere to direct them away from the site. The pollutants are able to be transported over a larger area, so even emissions from a factory in Pennsylvania can cause negative effects in other areas of the country and overseas. These emissions cause acid rain, for example, which has been shown to alter acidity levels in freshwater lakes so greatly that entire species of fish can be wiped out. Limestone and marble degradation from sulfur dioxide can happen as well. If we allow this to go on much longer, we may destroy everything that makes this planet special.
 * How does air pollution affect the planet? **



﻿Here in the U.S., the Clean Air Act was passed in 1963 (and was amended numerous times afterwords). This act was made to set limits on the discharge of pollutants into the air to achieve air quality standards. "The amendments of 1990 identified ozone, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, acid rain, and scores of “air toxics” (hazardous pollutants not dealt with elsewhere in the act, such as carcinogens, mutagens, and reproductive toxins) as major air pollution problems" ("AIR POLLUTION"). On an international level, the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution was adopted in 1979 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and was put into effect in 1983. This was the first legally binding multinational pact to confront air pollution. This group deals with"long-term financing of monitoring and evaluation efforts; reduction of sulfur emissions; control of nitrogen oxides; control of emissions of volatile organic compounds (hydrocarbons); reduction of emissions of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, and mercury); curtailment of persistent organic pollutants (mainly pesticides, along with a couple of industrial chemicals and their by-products/contaminants); and abatement of acidification, eutrophication, and ground-level ozone"("AIR POLLUTION").  The little things we do every day can help prevent air pollution. Switching to greener cleaning products can reduce chemicals let into the air. Convincing someone you know, like a friend or family member, to stop smoking not only will help their general health, but it will reduce air pollution, too. Even changing the food you eat can make a difference. Choosing more natural, local foods reduces exhaust from planes and trucks needed to deliver processed foods and also reduces the need for food made in factories letting out emissions. These small steps may not seem like a big deal, but if everyone works together, we can provide cleaner air and healthier future generations.
 * What is the government doing to prevent air pollution? **
 * What can we do to help? **

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//**We need to help, before it's too late! **//

Citations:

|jdbmihjnh||ssJN "World Almanac & Book of Facts"||sljh','');|World Almanac & Book of Facts; 2009, p657-657, 1p, 1 Chart

|jdbmihjnh||ssJN "Science News"||sljh','');|Science News; 8/15/87, Vol. 132 Issue 7, p105-105, 1p

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">"AIR POLLUTION." //Funk & Wagnall's New World Encyclopedia//. Web.