Measures to Control External Air Pollution
Strategies to control air pollution are usually government-directed preventive measures. The methods used include technology combined with laws reducing toxic emissions from factories and cars, plus regulations for the disposal of products, such as refrigerators, that pollute the atmosphere.
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Clean Air Act 1970
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The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the most important air-related environmental law in the United States. Congress passed the law, but the Environmental Protection Agency issues the regulations relevant to it -- for example, specifications for safe levels of various pollutants permitted in the air. The EPA works with companies and other agencies responsible for polluting emissions to ensure they comply with regulations.
Clean Air Act Amendments 1990
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In 1990, Congress amended the CAA in a way that dramatically changed the approach to air pollution. The amendments emphasized controlling emissions of hazardous air pollutants that lead to acid rain and ozone layer depletion. The revised CAA also defined five goals to protect public health, including limiting human exposure to air toxics, improving visibility in national parks, reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide that cause acid rain, and restricting use of chemicals that deplete atmospheric ozone.
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Air Quality Management
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The EPA established the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to manage air quality. The standards focus on six common pollutants, including carbon monoxide, lead and nitrogen dioxide. Ambient air is the air breathed by the public. The levels set by the standards are divided into primary and secondary standards; the primary relates to health and the secondary to welfare, which refers to crop and ecosystem damage as well as building deterioration.
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References
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