Air Quality By Danielle Benkert

Particulate or Particle Pollution Caused by combustion of fossil fuels like burning of coal, diesel, gasoline, and wood Parts of particulate suspended in the air includes: Road dust Diesel Sulfate Aerosols Soot Ash wood

Particulate or Particle Pollution Cont. EPA is concerned about particulate matter 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller. The smaller particles can pass through nose and throat and go into the lungs causing respiratory problems. Particulate pollution caused by traffic and diesel engines is becoming a big problem in European Union cities. The World Health Organization (WHO) set their acceptable air quality standard at 10 micrograms of particles per cubic meter and the standard is not being met. The standard in the United States is 15 micrograms per cubic meter.

Smog or Ground-Level Ozone Formed when Nitrogen oxides emitted from electric power plants and automobiles react with organic compounds in presence of sunlight and heat It has been referred to as a public health crisis, impacting people in nearly every U.S. state. Our reliance on automobiles is to blame for the increase in smog levels.

Smog or Ground-Level Ozone EPA sets federal eight-hour smog standards and tracks number of days that exceed standard. 2002 was worst recorded smog season Standard was exceeded 8,818 times nationwide California, Texas, and Tennessee have had highest number of unhealthy ozone days.

Health 1 out of 3 people in the United States is at higher risk of experiencing ozone-related health effects.   Those most at risk of experiencing smog related health effects include: Children People who work or exercise outside regularly Elderly People with respiratory diseases

Health Cont. Short term health effects of smog include: Asthma Irritating lungs Reducing lung function Aggravating asthma Inflaming and damaging lining of lungs Asthma Prevalence of asthma has increased globally suggesting growing problems with indoor and outdoor air quality Most chronic disorder among children worldwide