Air Pollution

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how the major sources of air pollution are transportation engines, power and heat generation, industrial processes, and the burning of solid waste. It discusses how it has been been a growing problem since the advent of the Industrial Revolution and how the health problems from particulates and other pollutants in the air can be severe. In particular, it looks at how, since the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, the United States has made significant strides in the control of air pollution.

Outline:
What Is Air Pollution?
History of Air Pollution
What Substances Pollute Our Air?
Health Problems
Status of Air Pollution in the U. S. Today
Future Directions
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"By many accounts, ozone presents the most serious air quality problem in the United States. Ozone is not a particulate. However, particulates released into the atmosphere help create excess ozone. Ozone is formed by the interaction of ultraviolet rays of the sun and nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sometimes called hydrocarbons. This reaction is called "phytochemical" and cannot occur without polluting emissions from power plants, industrial plants, and internal combustion engines from cars, trucks, and construction machinery (Whitman, 2005). Other sources include commonly used chemical compounds such as those used in paint or in dry cleaning plants (Whitman, 2005). These problems are often aggravated by summer's heat, and contribute to thousands of deaths every year in the United States (Whitman, 2005). "

More papers on Air Pollution:

• Essay # 88967 : "The Economic Effects of Air Pollution"
• Research Paper # 89728 : "Air Pollution Control in Ann Arbor"
• Cause and Effect Essay # 33812 : "Consequences of Air Pollution"
• Term Paper # 121245 : "Air Pollution and Solutions"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: