For additional information on any of the following topics, click
on the links below.
What is outdoor air pollution?
There are 6 major outdoor air pollutants that cause adverse health
effects. Ozone at ground level is bad. It is formed by the chemical
reactions of pollutants from cars, trucks, power plants, and factories.
It is the main component of smog and is compounded by heat and sunlight.
Ozone can move rapidly downwind. Particulate matter is the dust,
dirt, soot, and smoke from cars, factories, fires, and windblown
dust. Carbon monoxide is a gas that is formed in the air when carbon
fuels are not completely burned. Car exhaust accounts for about
60% of carbon monoxide emissions. These levels are significantly
higher in cities. Lead is another outdoor air pollutant, which is
discussed in detail in the Lead section on this web site. Nitrogen
dioxide is a highly reactive gas that comes from cars and factories.
It is a major component in acid rain and contributes to the formation
of ozone. Acid rain also contains sulfur dioxide, a gas that is
formed when coal and fuel oil is burned.
Why is outdoor air pollution harmful?
Poor air quality is harmful to everyone, but children are at higher
risk for developing problems associated with air pollution. Children
breathe faster than adults breathe, and their respiratory tracts
are still developing. Children are outdoors more often and for longer
periods of time. Poor air quality has been demonstrated to be a
precursor to the development of asthma in children. Over a 14-year
time period (1980 to 1994) asthma rates in children increased 160%.
Ozone is harmful to everyone. It is known to exacerbate asthma
symptoms, and can reduce lung functions in individuals with normal
lungs who exercise outdoors. Particulate matter can cause respiratory
disease and increase asthma symptoms. Exposure to carbon monoxide
in the outdoor air can cause a decreased work capacity, visual impairment
and poor learning ability. It can be poisonous and even fatal, especially
indoors (see Indoor Air Quality). Lead exposure can cause developmental
delays, kidney, liver, and brain damage (see Lead). Short-term exposure
(3 hours or less) to nitrogen dioxide can reduce pulmonary function,
while long-term exposure can cause permanent damage to the lungs.
Sulfur dioxide can cause wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness
of breath. Long-term exposure can aggravate heart disease and respiratory
illness.
What is being done to protect us from outdoor air pollution?
Outdoor air pollution is everywhere. Our air is cleaner now than
it was a few decades ago. However, some areas of the country have
worse air pollution than before. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency, industries in this country continue to pollute
the air with 2.4 billion pounds of chemical every year. The Clean
Air Act of 1963 was enacted to set the standards for vehicle emissions
and ambient air quality. Revisions have been made to the Act to
set stricter criteria for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) that measure the 6 major air pollutants. Currently, the
NAAQS are set at the lowest exposure level known to be associated
with health problems.
Another measurement for outdoor air pollution is the Air Quality
Index (AQI). The AQI is calculated each day by using the previous
day's measurement of the highest level pollutant. The AQI appears
in many newspapers and is frequently mentioned on the television
and radio weather reports. The AQI groups air quality into 6 categories.
They are: Good, Moderate, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy,
Very Unhealthy, and Hazardous.
What can I do to protect my family from outdoor air pollution?
It is impossible to avoid air pollution entirely. Even staying
indoors does not protect against air pollution (see Indoor Air Quality).
There are a few things that you may do to protect your family and
reduce exposure to outdoor air pollution. Read the AQI in the local
paper every day. If your children or anyone in your family is in
the "Sensitive Group", carefully follow the recommendations
stated in the AQI report in the newspaper. The "Sensitive Group"
is for the very young, the very old, and anyone with heart or breathing
problems. Also, do not exercise, use a grill, mow the grass or use
a fireplace when the AQI is "Unhealthy" or worse.
Where can I get more information?
American Lung Association - www.lungusa.org
The Weather Channel - www.weather.com
Call, write or visit the Environmental Protection Agency's web
site.
Environmental Protection Agency Region 5
77 W. Jackson
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 886-6003
www.epa.gov
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