|
We All Cause Air Pollution!
How Do We
Cause Air Pollution?
 We cause air
pollution directly through our use of electricity, fuels, and transportation.
 We also cause air pollution indirectly, when we buy goods and services that use energy in their production and delivery. Most of
this air pollution we cause results from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil,
natural gas, and gasoline to produce electricity and power our vehicles.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a good indicator of how much fossil
fuel is burned and how much of other pollutants are emitted as a result. Using carbon dioxide as an
example, the average family in the United States causes air pollution in the following
ways:
How
Much Air Pollution Do We Cause?
An average family in the United States causes the following
amounts of air pollution each year:
Climate Change Pollution (CO2) = 85 Tons
Ozone-Causing Pollution (NOx) = 325 Pounds
Acid Rain Causing Pollution (SO2) = 411 Pounds
Small Particulate Pollution = 43 Pounds
Toxic Lead Pollution (Pb) = 1.2 Ounces
Toxic Mercury Pollution (Hg) = 0.04 Ounces |
 Find out how much pollution is caused by your
household electricity use with the Cleaner and Greener Pollution
Calculator.
|
And each year, the average individual in the United States causes the following amounts of air pollution:
Climate Change Pollution (CO2) = 27 Tons
Ozone-Causing Pollution (NOx) = 102 Pounds
Acid Rain Causing Pollution (SO2) = 129 Pounds
Small Particulate Pollution = 14 Pounds
Toxic Lead Pollution (Pb) = 0.4 Ounces
Toxic Mercury Pollution (Hg) = 0.01 Ounces |
That's a LOT of pollution!! |
The following table summarizes some sources and effects of
these air pollutants.
Sources and Effects of Common Air Pollutants
| Pollutant |
Anthropogenic
Sources |
Health Effects |
Environmental Effects |
Ozone
(O3) |
Secondary pollutant formed by chemical
reaction of VOCs and NOx in the presence of sunlight. |
Breathing problems, reduced lung function,
asthma, irritates eyes, stuffy nose, reduces resistance to colds and infections, premature
aging of lung tissue. |
Damages crops, forests, and other
vegetation; damages rubber, fabric, and other materials; smog reduces visibility. |
| Nitrogen Oxides
(NOx) |
Burning of gasoline, natural gas, coal,
oil. (Cars are a major source of NOx.) |
Lung damage, respiratory illnesses, ozone
(smog) effects. |
Ozone (smog) effects; precursor of acid
rain which damages trees, lakes, and soil; aerosols can reduce visibility. Acid rain also causes buildings, statues, and monuments to
deteriorate. |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) |
Burning of gasoline, natural gas, coal,
oil. |
Reduces ability of blood to bring oxygen
to body cells and tissues. |
|
| Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs) |
Fuel combustion, solvents, paint. (Cars are a major source of VOCs.) |
Ozone (smog) effects, cancer, and other
serious health problems. |
Ozone (smog) effects, vegetation damage. |
| Particulate Matter |
Emitted as particles or formed through
chemical reactions; burning of wood, diesel, and other fuels; industrial processes;
agriculture (plowing, field burning); unpaved roads. |
Eye, nose, and throat irritation; lung
damage; bronchitis; cancer; early death. |
Source of haze which reduces visibility.
Ashes, smoke, soot, and dust can dirty and discolor
structures and property, including clothes and furniture. |
| Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) |
Burning of coal and oil, especially
high-sulfur coal; industrial processes (paper manufacturing, metal smelting). |
Respiratory illness, breathing problems,
may cause permanent damage to lungs. |
Precursor of acid rain, which can damage
trees, lakes, and soil; aerosols can reduce visibility. Acid rain also causes buildings, statues, and monuments to deteriorate. |
| Lead |
Combustion of fossil fuels and leaded
gasoline; paint; smelters (metal refineries); battery manufacturing. |
Brain and nervous system damage (esp.
children), digestive and other problems. Some lead-containing chemicals cause cancer in
animals. |
Harm to wildlife and livestock. |
| Mercury |
Fossil fuel combustion, waste disposal,
industrial processes (incineration, smelting, chlor-alkali plants), mining. |
Liver, kidney, and brain damage;
neurological and developmental damage. |
Accumulates in food chain. |
Health
Effects of the Pollution We Cause
 Exposure to emissions of lead, mercury, sulfur dioxide,
particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and ozone-forming nitrogen dioxides are hazardous to
public health. Toxic compounds, like mercury and lead, poison organ systems and can lead
to brain damage and death. In parts of the country where lakes and waterways have been contaminated with mercury from electric power plants, fish are no longer safe to eat because they, too, are contaminated with heavy metal pollutants. Other pollutants, like ozone and particulate matter, cause respiratory and other
health problems, particularly in children and the elderly.
Environmental
Effects
Climate change on a global scale has been attributed to increased emissions
of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas. A global average temperature rise of
only 1C could have serious implications. Possible consequences include melting of polar
ice caps; an increase in sea level; and increases in precipitation and severe weather
events like hurricanes, tornadoes, heat waves, floods, and droughts. Indirect effects
include increases in infectious disease, weather-related deaths, and food and water
shortages. All these effects put a stress on ecosystems and agriculture, and threaten our
planet as a whole.
Other
atmospheric effects of air pollution include urban smog and reduced visibility, associated
with ozone-forming nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compound emissions. Sulfur dioxide
and nitrogen oxides combine with water in the atmosphere to cause acid rain, which is
detrimental to forests and other vegetation, soil, lakes, and aquatic life. Acid rain also
causes monuments and buildings to deteriorate.
Economic Effects
The effects
of air pollution on human health and the environment have economic impacts. According to
the Healthy People 2000 report [5], each year in the United
States:
-
The health costs of human exposure to outdoor air
pollutants range from $40 to $50 billion.
-
An estimated 50,000 to 120,000 premature deaths are
associated with exposure to air pollutants.
-
People with asthma experience more than 100 million days of
restricted activity, costs for asthma exceed $4 billion, and about 4,000 people die of
asthma.
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) article, "Why is
it Better to Buy Green Electricity?"[1], states that
acid rain causes $6 billion a year in damage to crops, forests, lakes, and buildings. The
potential economic impact of global warming is estimated to be in the billions of dollars.
While green sources of electricity may cost more, they do not incur the external costs of
traditional fossil fuel-based generation. The EDF article states that:
"Increasing reliance on green sources reduces
financial risks such as future regulations, taxes on greenhouse gases, and price
fluctuations associated with fossil fuels. Green resources increase U.S. energy self
sufficiency, and thus economic security, by reducing reliance on fossil fuel imports. They
also help reduce current rapid depletion of natural resources.
Green resources are a good source of jobs and income
because they rely on local labor, land, and resources. Rural communities would probably
benefit the most from renewable energy development, as wind and biomass energy production
is likely to take place in rural areas."
What You Can Do
There are many actions people of all ages can take to reduce their emisisons. To learn more, read the checklist of things you can do in your home and in your school in the Cleaner and Greener Program's "Guide to Air Pollution and the Emissions We Cause." If we all work together, we can make the world a cleaner and greener place to live!
The Cleaner and Greener Environment
Program
Since our own electricity use is only
responsible for 14% of our total emissions, using cleaner electricity will only address
part of our total emissions. If we want to clean up the environment, we need solutions
that address all of the emissions we cause. The Cleaner and Greener
Environment Program makes it easy to address all the pollutants caused by both our direct
and indirect energy use! 5 EASY steps to a cleaner, greener, healthier environment!
Return to
Educational Materials
More
Resources
|
