Air Pollution Arises Both From

Air pollution arises both from natural processes and human activity. Substances not naturally found in the air or at greater concentrations or in different locations from usual are considered 'pollutants'. Air pollution can result from human activity or natural processes. Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds, and natural radioactivity, are all among the natural causes of air pollution.

Natural air pollution does not usually occur in abundance in particular locations. Natural air pollution is distributed throughout the world, and as a result, poses little threat to the health of people and ecosystems (1). Therefore, the remainder of this paper will focus on air pollution resulting from human activity, and potential means of reducing air pollution from human activity.

The biggest causes of air pollution are the operation of fossil fuel-burning power plants and automobiles that combust fuel. Combined, these two sources are responsible for about 90% of all air pollution in the United States. Due to the abundance of air pollution attributable to automobiles, the Environmental Protection Agency has initiated a number of programs to reduce automobile emissions.

One of these initiatives is the clean air act. "Reformulated gasoline is gasoline blended to burn cleaner and reduce smog-forming and toxic pollutants in the air we breathe.

The Clean Air Act requires that reformulated gasoline be used in cities with the worst smog pollution to reduce harmful emissions of ozone" (2).

The first phase of the reformulated gasoline program was designed to reduce the air pollution that causes smog by 64,000 tons per year in the areas that use reformulated gasoline, compared to conventional gasoline, the equivalent of eliminating the smog-forming emissions from over 10 million vehicles" (2).

Green Peace has identified industrial incinerators as a major source of air pollution. According to Green Peace, "fifteen municipal waste incinerators burn 2.5 million tons of waste every year in the United Kingdom alone. The incinerators produce a cocktail of toxic chemicals that can cause cancer, heart disease, respiratory problems, immune system defect, increased allergies and birth defects" (3). Green Peace suggests sustainable waste management as an alternative to industrial incinerators.

The Sierra Club identifies coal burning power plants as major contributors to air pollution. "Out of the entire electric industry, coal-fired power plants contribute 96% of sulfur dioxide emissions, 93% of nitrogen oxide emissions, 88% of carbon dioxide emissions, and 99% of mercury emissions" (4). In addition, these coal-fired power plants contribute to acid rain, soot, smog, air toxins, and global warming.