From the ozone depletion of the stratosphere to the acid rain erosion of marble structures and statuary, the effects of air pollution are all around us and getting worse. Invisible greenhouse gases like methane and CO2 are pollutants. Smoke and soot, visible particulate matter, are also air pollution. Pollutants are more concentrated in urban areas, but they find their way around the world, condensing in high latitudes and— in the case of persistent organic pollutants like DDT—entering the food chain and bioaccumulating in humans.
Automobiles and coal fired power plants are two of the largest contributors to outdoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution is also a concern. New buildings emit formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are dangerous without proper ventilation. Older buildings can also have air pollution, from lead paint dust to mold toxins. In some parts of the US radon gas—a carcinogen—is a problem. The radon is emitted from the ground and typically trapped in a basement where it builds up to dangerous levels.
Air pollution control is affected by scrubbing pollutants from the exhaust stream before they are released into the atmosphere. While this has been successful in reducing particulate matter, CO2 is usually released with the exhaust stream.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has established Ambient Air Quality Standards. To enforce the standards, they have implemented an air pollution monitoring program.
(Photo credit: Lucia Maldonado-Medina, Flickr)
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