Outdoor air quality standards are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and can be addressed regularly regardless of the high or poor quality of the air.

Indoor air quality standards simply state that all employers are required to make sure that every employee has freedom from recognized hazards which have the potential to contribute to or cause serious health implications or death. While these are some pretty low standards, they have to remain low in order for some jobs to exist. Outside the basic regulations of preventing serious illness and death, OSHA is unable to regulate basic air quality throughout most work environments.

Outdoor air quality standards are set by the EPA and require that pollution levels are measured, monitored, and tracked over a period of time in order to determine the levels of pollutants that are present or absent from any given air sample.

In 1990 the Clean Air Act was amended once again to include the measurement of air quality standards. This record keeping allows scientific communities to monitor the progress of air clean up projects. These measurements can also let the scientific community know when the pollution levels start to rise. This data is then accounted for over a period of time and the results can be interpreted in order to alter the clean air programs.

Over a period of three years, the air quality must not decline beyond a set point more than once per year, on average. This is the basic air quality standard set by the EPA, and is measured regularly. Over the past ten years there have been interesting developments when it comes to interpreting the results of the air quality readings. The strict regulations regarding vehicle emissions have shown a direct correlation to the decline of daily produced ozone, despite the fact that there needs to be tighter regulations to prevent the decline altogether.

The EPA set up two basic air quality standards when it comes to measuring the air quality. The primary pollutants are measured which are set to measure the potential health effects for individuals who are considered to be sensitive to air quality. The secondary standard is set up to measure the potential health effects on the general healthy population. The blend of primary standards and secondary standards has helped to set up the EPA’s air quality indexing system, alerting sensitive individuals to the possibility of ill health effects. This early, primary standard has helped to set up a systematic warning for sensitive individuals, which in turn helps them to live healthier lives through management and protection.

Indoor air pollution is a serious problem. Most people spend between 80% to 90% of their lives living inside a building, whether it is an office or their home. This means that the air quality inside a home or building can pose a larger threat than outdoor air pollution, and according to some scientific studies, can be more deadly than highly polluted cities.

Indoor air quality testing is the only way to know exactly what types of pollutants are floating around the home or office. Air pollution inside a building can come from a wide array of different sources including the heating system, insulation that still has asbestos, cooking elements and Teflon, as well as the outdoor air pollution that enters the home. If you live with a smoker or work in a building that allows smoking even in a partitioned area, tobacco pollution can be added to the list.

Air quality testing within the workplace should be required, although technically it is not. Even in high risk industries, air quality testing is not a requirement for maintaining healthy standards. Many companies won’t test for air quality because it leaves a record of the company’s knowledge of indoor air pollutants. This means that they will then open themselves up to a wide variety of Worker’s Compensation claims. Requiring all office, manufacturing, and even health care buildings to perform routine air quality testing would eliminate potential health problems.

Natural pollutants like mold, fungus, and other irritants can cause significant health problems. Long term exposure to mold and fungus can cause serious illness, especially in those that are already suffering from respiratory ailments like asthma and COPD. Other natural pollutants, like radon, can be like living with a destructive ghost that causes asthma and other respiratory problems.

Most of us live with air pollution in our homes and offices and show no obvious ill effects. In many cases, there aren’t any detectable ill effects while in other cases there could be immediate or long term damage to one’s health. This is part of why there is a push for air quality testing throughout industries and it is recommended for homes. The potential effects can range from the development of asthma to respiratory failure in severe cases.

Fortunately, air quality testing isn’t terribly expensive or time consuming. One simple test can show you exactly how many different airborne pollutants are in your home. Once you know what you are facing it becomes much easier to deal with the problem. Good air quality inside the home is one of the most important elements of providing a safe home for your family. The cleaner the air that they breathe, the healthier they will be for life.

The air quality index has gone from a basic system that was once used to track measurements of the pollution levels in the air to a systematic public health information posting that can be found on numerous public access locales. Weather reports and internet bulletins provide constant updates to the public to inform individuals of the potential for health effects caused by poor air quality.

The EPA structured the system in a convenient color coded messaging system for easy public conversion. In the United States, the system is based on 6 colors, ranging from green to maroon. There are basic numeric measurements that correspond with each color. The numeric measurements start at 0 and go up through 500. The Environmental Protection Agency has set the standard for reasonable air quality to reach no higher than 100. 100 or below generally poses no real health threat to the general population.

Green air days measured by the air quality index are measured from 0 to 50, and mean that the air quality is really very good for outdoor activities and that there should not be any adverse effects from breathing outdoor out that day. Yellow, which is the next color, indicates that the numeric measurement ranges from 51 to 100 and is considered to be reasonable air quality. Yellow air days might affect just a few very sensitive individuals, but generally the population should not find the air quality to be problematic.

Orange air days fall on the numeric range from 101 to 150 and indicate that people with asthma, respiratory ailments or diseases, young people, the elderly, and those with health problems that increase sensitivity are likely to experience mild to moderate effects from the air quality. Any day that is listed at orange or beyond should result in limited time out doors and special care for those who are considered to be vulnerable.

151 to 200 on the numeric scale equals a red day on the air quality index. Red signifies that there could be significant problems for the sensitive or high risk groups and that the general healthy population are likely to experience at least some adverse effects from the quality of the air. Red air days come with an automatic recommendation to limit or restrict time outside.

The purple range on the air quality index indicates that the numerical scale is between 201 to 300 and the air is considered to be dangerous for everyone. The sensitive individuals of the population are going to need to stay indoors and take preventative action in order to reduce the chance of health effects caused by the air quality.

Last on the air quality index scale is maroon. Maroon indicates that the numerical number ranges in between 301 to 500 and is considered to be hazardous. Hazardous conditions mean that those who are sensitive to air quality are likely to suffer ill effects while healthy individuals are also likely to be affected by the poor air quality. Overall, anything over a red day is considered to be serious, but maroon is likely to kill those who are more sensitive to air quality.

The air quality index scale is derived from a mathematical equation once the area’s air quality is assessed. The equation includes a calculation of the initial, healthy air quality, the concentration of the pollutant levels, and a high and low index. The calculations equal a corresponding number on the air quality index scale and then converted to the color.

The air quality index has become a necessary tool around the world. While the color coding and numerical scale might be different, countries such as Singapore, Canada, the UK, and Hong Kong all have their own air quality index reporting system. In countries like Malaysia, the air quality index can result in several state of emergencies throughout the year should the quality decline sufficiently. Throughout the world, there are those countries with better air quality than some, although everywhere seems to have a struggle with smog air pollution. Soon it will be standard procedure in every single country to report the daily air quality for public health and safety.

The Environmental Protection Agency became adamantly involved an scientific communities joined forces to help reduce the smog back down to levels that were previously recorded. What this incident really drove home was that the aspects of air pollution could not be ignored, and there are still many places (including Los Angeles) that suffer from poor air quality days due to smog.

Smog air pollution is essentially a combination of various particle elements that have a chemical reaction with the sunlight. This is why smog is a much more prevalent problem in regions where the sun is stronger for most of the year and the temperature remains higher throughout most seasons.

Worldwide, London, Tehran, and Mexico City have historically suffered from smog air pollution. In the United States, Los Angeles, New York, and various cities in Pennsylvania have had death tolls from smog air pollution.

Smog is not a new phenomenon. In US history, 20 people in Donora, Pennsylvania died from smog. New York has had three major smog air pollution incidents in 1953, 1963, and 1966. Each incident was recorded to have killed between 160 and 250 people. The dangers of smog are serious, and every year there are a number of deaths and hospitalizations due to this ugly killer.

As early as 1306 smog that was related to the emissions caused by the burning of coal fires settled over London, which led to a relatively brief ban on coal fire burning. Of course, since coal was the main source of heat for so many, this ban was lifted as early as possible. While this is not the same type of smog air pollution that we see today, the health effects were just as great.

Later, London experienced what was deemed The Great Smog of 1952, which led to a 4 day death watch that killed over 4,000 people. The remaining 8,000 people who died from this particular smog event took up to six to eight weeks to pass away. This was a smog air pollution event that had catastrophic results.

Smog air pollution has the ability to create or irritate existing health problems. For instance, asthmatics and other people with lung diseases can suffer greatly during a high smog event and in some cases the potential for death is very high.

Living in a smog intense area is more likely to affect the overall health including causes lung diseases, causing interference with normal eye and nose functions, the removal and drying of the protective membranes found in the eyes, nose, and throat, and it can even decrease the body’s ability to fight off infections.

The hearts of many have suffered significantly from the effects of smog, including sudden onset heart attacks. Children and the elderly are greatly susceptible to smog related illnesses, and it is imperative that those living in high smog areas go out of their way to protect themselves.

So if this danger is lurking around us why have we not been able to remove the threat from our world? Basically because we like to drive, or feel we have to drive. We like the convenience of being able to hop in the car and run to the store to buy products that were made in high emission factories.

Car exhaust is a leading cause of smog. In short, smog air pollution is a “fog” of ground level ozone, which includes carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. There are tiny particles of these pollutants that mix with other pollutants and then react in the presence of sunlight. When smog settles over an area it can seem like there is a fog of smoke that covers the ground.

While the standards for vehicle and industry emissions are still tighter than ever, they simply are not tight enough. If we want to eliminate the health effects that go hand in hand with smog air pollution then we have to investigate and support new forms of transportation and industry. The more we can limit the use of emission creating vehicles and factories or power plants, the closer we get to containing the smog monster that has a deadly and frightening power.

However, the pollution that each household releases into the air is significant enough that if each home reduced their air pollution contribution be even 50% there would be a high impact on the health of the atmosphere. Reducing air pollution is a personal responsibility rather than just a governmental project.

It should be said that government policies regarding large industries still require even more regulation if we want to save the planet. However, it is not the sole responsibility of the government to take care of reducing air pollution. Anyone and everyone can act responsibly. Sometimes, it is just a function of letting the public know how their activities impact the environment.

While most of us realize that cars, industry, and even power boating has an impact of the quality and condition of the air, few of us consider that most of our air pollution contribution is based in our consumerism. Any given product has to undergo a process of consumerism.

It is first manufactured, packed, and then shipped to the appropriate destination. Following its time on the shelves of a store it is then purchased, driven home, and used. Its last contribution comes in the form of its waste. This profile is then multiplied the number of products available times the number of people who buy and use them.

Sometimes just doing simple things can help toward reducing air pollution, we already know that particulate air pollution is a direct cause of air pollution, each day millions of people worldwide suffer health conditions caused by not reducing air pollution.

If consumers were apt to pick up locally produced goods, buy alternative products, and stray from products which require a great deal of processing as a waste product we could all have a significant impact on the air pollution issues surrounding products.

Some companies have recognized the value in creating smaller, more concentrated materials so that the production and waste pollution can be reduced.

For instance, a cleaning product that comes in a 2 ounce tube but offers the full sized cleaning bottle can reduce air pollution once the consumer gets in the habit of filling a reusable bottle instead of buying a brand new one every two months. The reduction on waste, which releases toxins into the air even upon recycling, can really add up. If all consumers headed in this direction the effects would be accumulative and powerful.

If everyone chose all of their products based on the idea of reducing waste, including recyclables not only would manufacturers respond but we would find we experienced the added benefits of saving money as concentrated products often last longer than regular products.

Reducing air pollution isn’t an overnight fix. The road to the current level of damage to the atmosphere has been a long one and it will take some time to change the buying habits, the production habits, and even the driving habits of an entire country.

Until such time comes it is important to remember that every effort toward reducing air pollution is a valuable and much needed effort. In order to start curbing the air pollution problems of today we need everyone to participate. Choosing to participate now rather than later can only be beneficial.  

This blend usually includes particles of aerosols, diesel exhaust, metals, soot, and chemicals. Just as you wouldn’t inhale diesel exhaust coming from a tailpipe because it isn’t good for you, the remainder of the particulate air pollution is just as unhealthy.

The lungs are generally irritated and the particles cause the lining of the lungs to become inflamed, which decreases the function of the lungs. The heart and arteries are found to pump harder, to be deprived of oxygenated blood, and there is an obvious increase in heart disease in areas of higher particulate air pollution. The veins are proven to suffer from more frequent cases of deep vein thrombosis in areas with a high level of particulate air pollution.

Unless an individual or family wishes to move to a cleaner area (which will increase populations and thereby increase particulate air pollution over time) there are not many options for avoiding these unseen particles in the air. It’s not like avoiding bugs that fly around in the air. The particles are microscopic and have to be severely concentrated in order for their presence to be seen, like smog.

Air quality reports, online websites that offer particulate air pollution forecasts, and Environmental Protection Agency services can help families find out just how much the pollution is likely to be in the air for the day. Avoiding contact is nearly impossible, but exercising in high particulate air pollution areas increases exposure. Regardless of where you live, everyone should take their exercise away from major road ways in order to avoid breathing in the particles that come from the passing vehicles.

To help decrease the rate of particulate air pollution, drive less and drive eco friendly vehicles. You can encourage your lawmakers to look into new solutions like zero emission cars and alternative fuel sources to help decrease our air pollution. Cutting your own waste production down will also help since trash collection services generally bury or burn the collected trash. In many land pollution cases, recyclables are burned during the process or instead of recycling.

The biggest threat to preventing particulate air pollution is industry. With every single air control violation industries release toxins into the air that we all end up dealing with in one way or another. Under current laws, the particulate air pollution has a high industrial component. As the laws restrict industry right now there are still way too many pollutants permitted to leave the factory or plant and enter the air. Petitioning lawmakers to start taking air pollution seriously is one of the ways you can help encourage the type of environmental changes that we need.

The threat of particulate air pollution is very real and more studies are released annually that show a direct link between this type of air pollution and an increase in lung, heart, and vein related pollution affected illness. The more air pollution that we place into the air the more air pollution we breathe in again. Perhaps environmentally asleep lawmakers should spend a little more time outside.

It is vital that you have a house checked for home air pollution elements before you buy.Some of the more common home air pollution problems include radon, mold, carbon dioxide, and toxic chemical bases.

Radon is a toxic gas that can be trapped under the home and released over long periods of time directly into the living environment. Children are usually the first to suffer from respiratory ailments when radon is in the home.Once a home is tested and the test returns positive for radon, it becomes almost impossible to sell. For this reason buyers have to require the test as part of the terms of sale if they want the home checked before buying.

Mold is a very common home air pollution problem, and it can reach extreme levels in some moist and warm areas of the United States. Mold can cause a host of health problems, including chronic infections. Mold spores that are released into the air and are breathed in by children and infants can cause serious respiratory and immune system problems.

Carbon monoxide is a deadly home air pollutant that is present on some level in most homes. When carbon monoxide levels reach high enough levels, the end result is generally death for the entire family. In recent history the common household carbon monoxide detector has saved countless lives. In most cases, deadly levels of carbon monoxide come from cracked furnaces and indoor vehicle emissions.

There are a number of incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning from the indoor use of an outdoor product, like grills. Carbon monoxide detectors are the only way to find this odorless and colorless gas that can become a home air pollution nightmare.

Chemicals are effectively one of the most common home air pollutants. Chemicals come in and out of the average home on a regular basis. Chemicals often are released into the air during their use and poor ventilation can then trap the chemical components in the air for long periods of time. This can cause immediate illness, or even death, if not noticed.

Most of the home air quality and pollution problems are existent in all homes but are not considered to be at high enough levels to be considered a true health risk. Homes that are well ventilated are often at a much lower risk for serious problems for home air pollution. However, this in no way implies that well ventilated homes can’t experience toxic levels of toxins, especially carbon monoxide.

Home air filters, and home building essentials that can reduce the risk of home air pollutants are now becoming increasingly common. For the family that is having a new home built, it is imperative to talk with the builder about their policies and materials to make sure that toxic chemicals not only stay out of the building process but that the builder also uses home environmentally friendly materials and processes.

For an existing home, tests and detectors are the only real answer. Home filtration systems can be beneficial in reducing molds and other irritants, but will not filter out toxic gases like carbon monoxide or radon.

Unfortunately, air pollution has such a dramatic affect on air quality that it is highly likely that metropolitan areas are likely to start seeing these air quality reports become more indicative of threatening levels unless we set out to change the high degree of gases that are released into the atmosphere on a daily basis.

When the air quality and pollution reports indicate that the conditions are poor, it is unwise for anyone (especially children and the elderly) with a respiratory condition to engage in outdoor activity. Every summer, more children with asthma are confined indoors for longer durations as the air quality and pollution reports indicate a dangerously high level of air toxicity.

Of course, there are those impacted by the declining air quality and the increasing air pollution that don’t have the choice to hang out inside an air conditioned building. Wildlife experts are starting to indicate that the poor air quality days are now having a dramatic effect on the nation’s wildlife.

In heavily populated areas there is an increase in heat related deaths of the natural wildlife, which can be contributed to the animals’ inability to effectively get to water due to restricted breathing. This can mean that prey doesn’t have the ability to escape a predator and that panting animals lack the ability to cool their body temperature.

The declining air quality and the increase in air pollution is a serious problem that has a world wide impact. The long reaching effects of air pollution can be found over every continent to varying degrees, which means that at the continued rate of pollutant expulsion we will simply see countries that declare summer humidity to be potently unhealthy. We could eventually see the eradication of summertime activities.

Simple changes can help increase air quality and decrease air pollution. If every country decreased its rate of air pollution by just ten percent in the next twelve months we would literally buy the planet ten years of better air quality.

A worldwide reduction of 30% would give the planet’s trees a chance to create enough clean oxygen to prevent the decline of health seen in those with respiratory issues. Governments around the globe are becoming stricter and implementing air pollution laws, but the situation is still severe.

Getting the whole world on board with air pollution reduction by percentages presents unique and challenging problems. There are many countries which do not host companies that can afford to change the industry’s methods of production.

Closing the production plant in an already impoverished country creates even further human difficulties. Thus, many of the developing countries are looking toward the developed countries to make changes in their production emissions to counter the damage done in countries that can’t afford to make the changes.

Public education and motivation is another big part of reducing poor air quality and pollution. Encouraging individuals to car pool, bike when possible, walk, or use public transportation for their daily needs could be enough to reduce vehicle emissions by 5%.

If everyone who left the home to work took an alternative form of transportation one day per week, the emission reduction would add up. Cities like Virginia Beach and Norfolk, VA that are building light rails to interconnect their cities are expected to reduce vehicle emissions significantly over the next five years as drivers will have a cheaper and faster alternative to move throughout the cities and into their neighboring city.

Every small change that we make to reduce air pollution increases our potential to improve the air quality, making it easier for those with and without respiratory illnesses to breathe and remain healthy.

It is important to note that air pollution and air quality studies are performed throughout the world, and there are variables that can impact the prediction percentages of improvement. However, the one single constant that most of know without the benefit of a study is that reducing our impact on the Earth’s atmosphere is the key to improving air quality and creating a safer and more enjoyable world for us and our next generation.

The original air pollution laws hit the books in 1955. States were dealing with the air pollution problems that were surfacing by passing their own laws only to find that there was not enough impact on the air quality. National mandates came through in recognition for the need to stabilize the national air pollution laws. There were few restrictions that were passed in 1955, but the necessary funding for national observation and research was granted so that we would know just how bad the problems could be in the future.

It wasn’t until 1963 that the air pollution laws were put into place to actually reduce and prevent further contamination of the  air, by that point air pollution from cars was significantly on the rise. Back then, while the scientific research was not as advanced as it is today, the first real efforts to recognize and reconcile the damage to the air was put into place. This was the act that led to emission standards for automobiles and trucks as well as a reduction in the use of oil and coal with a high sulfur content. These small steps were a vital part toward the abatement of air pollution.

In 1967 the air pollution laws were amended to include the nationalized standard or clean air production for industries throughout the country. This was a hot topic of debate as there was a near majority vote that the government could not make an air pollution law that dealt with all industries in the same manner.

In 1970, when the environmental movement started to take off on a large scale, the Clean Air Act was passed into air pollution law. Overall, this was eventually considered to be a rather useless piece of legislature since the deadlines to meet tighter vehicle emissions were continuously extended. Regardless, the Clean Air Act of 1970 increased public awareness, extended funding, included the study of noise pollution, and finally gave the government the right to prosecute companies that were not in compliance of clean air standards.

Amended in 1977, the Clean Air Act was the first to recognize that there was destruction to the ozone layer and the first to implement research and abatement programs to help dissuade the continued destruction of the ozone.

Chlorofluorocarbons hit the scene when the Clean Air Act of 1990 gave Congress a long thoughtful pause as the real need to start making restrictive air pollution laws became increasingly clear. The use of CFCs were addressed and plans to eliminate them from our daily life were put into place, tighter restrictions once again were placed on vehicle emissions, and the initiation of the Best Available Control Technology air pollution law was created. The BACT was designed to implement the tightest possible air pollution control after the total cost of doing and the availability of current technology was considered.

President Obama was part of the newest act waiting for the passage into law that caps clean energy laws. This is a huge step toward creating a cleaner environment, encouraging clean energy jobs, and helping move the industries of resistance toward clean energy.

As environmental concerns continue to mount, many organizations are holding their breath in the hopes that the newest air pollution laws will take effect without amendment or relaxed laws. If we are ever going to clean up our air we need to press our politicians to take bold steps toward reducing emissions and creating clean energy to change the age old argument against tightening regulations. If the industries switch to clean energy, there will no longer be heavy cost concerns that plague an industry from making environmentally healthy decisions.

The air pollution from cars is caused, in significant part, by fuel emissions. This is a very familiar term although few of us can tell out friends and neighbors what it means. A fuel emission is a particle of the same fuel that you put into your car when you hit the petrol station.

This fuel particle has gone through the combustion process without burning in its entirety. Releasing this particle into the air contributes to the air pollution caused by cars.

These fuel emissions are known as hydrocarbons, which have a molecular makeup that entices them to react with sunlight and nitrous oxides. When this reaction happens, the molecule actually alters to form what is known as ground level smog. Ground level smog contributes to the air pollution caused by cars that irritate respiratory symptoms, cause cancers, and creates eye irritation.

Nitrous oxides contribute to more air pollution from cars. The nitrogen and the oxygen atoms that are found within the fuel is compounded by the high temperatures that engines run, causing a smashing of atoms that turn the individual atoms into what we know as nitrous oxides. This is one serious cause of acid rain and other air pollution problems.

Over the years, car manufacturers have reduced the number of nitrous oxide atoms are released, but cars that are equipped with catalytic converters are responsible for more than half of the air pollution caused nitrous oxide released from cars. These are the same gases that cause just under 8% of global warming.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is something that most of us have heard of, and we even protect ourselves inside our own homes from the deadly, poisonous, odorless gas. Yet the family car contributes to 2/3 of the world’s carbon monoxide gases in the atmosphere.

Carbon cells smash with oxygen cells to become carbon dioxide when cars are not well tuned, when the air to fuel ratio when turning the ignition is simply low, and in higher altitudes. Oxygen is a necessary component of combustion, which is needed for gasoline and diesel to power our vehicles. In many urban areas, the carbon monoxide air pollution from cars can reach over 90%.

Carbon dioxide is released during gas combustion, which is one of the continuing factors in the fight against global warming. Carbon dioxide is a trapping gas, which means that it lingers in the upper atmosphere and traps the planet’s heat. This naturally leads to more problems with the planet’s health.

Air pollution caused by cars is a serious problem, and there are many plans that may or may not come to fruition over the next few years. Hybrid cars a fantastic contributor to the reduction of combustion fuel gases that linger in the atmosphere, but their higher price and their lack of perceived power reduces interest from the consumer. The bicycle is the best alternative of all, but there are few who are willing to deal with variances in weather and temperature to bike to work and the inconvenience of riding a bike to the store presents more consumer resistance.

There are not many easy answers that have been produced in light of the information that the one billion cars that are driven in the United States are rapidly producing a world wide phenomenon of air pollution from cars.With air pollution on the rise, there is an increased need for air pollution control equipment to be used.