The Four Main Points of Clean Air Act of 1970

With in the Clean Air Act of 1970 there were many areas that it covered. The areas that was mandatory to standardize included carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), hydrocarbons, particulates, nitrogen oxides (NO_x) such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), lead, and ozone (O₃) (Kubasek & Silverman, 2008). With all of these areas come consequences. These consequences include acid rain, global warming, and illnesses in people, ozone layer being depleted, and so much more. There are many causes for each and every one of these causes of air pollution. Even thought there are a lot of main areas that the Clean Air Act of 1970 had covered however, there are four main areas along with examples of industries that are involved in these areas that will be discussed in the following sections.

One of the main areas that were mandatory to standardize was Carbon Monoxide (CO). This compound is put into the atmosphere by the "exhaust of internal-combustion engines...and is generated in coal stoves, furnaces, and gas appliances that do not get enough air..." (carbon monoxide, 2008) An example of an industry that puts its share of CO emission into the air is the automobile industries throughout the United States. The products that these industries put out produce wastes that include the CO compound. Although CO is a very dangerous pollutant to both people and the environment, there is another one that could cause just as much damage.

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is another pollutant that the Clean Air Act has been regulating. This pollutant is a huge problem for people and the environment. This is because not only does this compound become an acid when dissolved in water, it is very "corrosive to organic material" (sulfur dioxide, 2008). Sulfur dioxide is "produced by combustion of coal, fuel oil, and gasoline, since these fuels contain sulfur" (sulfur dioxide, 2008). An example of an industry that produces sulfur dioxide as one of its waste product includes the Coal industries in China. Since, "coal accounts for about 70% of China's total energy consumption" and studies showed that in china there was "some of the highest readings in the world for total suspended particulates (TSP) and SO₂"(China and Coal, 1997). Sulfur dioxide may be a very destructive pollutant there is another one that has almost the same effect on the environment.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is another pollutant that regulated under the Clean Air Act of 1970. This pollutant like SO₂ and other pollutants cause problems with the environment and people. Also like SO₂, NO₂ becomes acid rain when it mixes with water and this acid is corrosive (nitrogen dioxide, 2005). Nitric oxides (NO_x) like NO₂ "...are created by internal-combustion engines and manufacturing processes" (nitric oxide, 2008). Logging is a huge example of an industry that through cutting down trees and using fuel burning engines they produce nitric oxides like NO₂ as one of its wastes (Ecology & Cannabis Hemp, n/a). Although nitric oxides are dangerous there is another pollutant that has its own way of effecting the planet and people.

Lead is a pollutant that has been under the Clean Air Act of 1970. Lead is a very dangerous pollutant and can cause birth defects, death in a person, and harm to animals if absorbed into the body (Tucker, 2005). Lead is usually introduced in the air "from lead smelters, metal processing plants and incinerators" (Tucker, 2005). An example of an industry that produces lead as an air pollutant would be a metal processing plant in southwest China. These industries are producing large enough amount of lead into the air to cause lead poisoning of 200 children (Wong, 2009).

All in all the Clean Air Act of 1970 has done what it was set out to do. With its regulations and the cooperation with most of the people in the United States and throughout the world, there has been a reduction of pollutants being released into the air. With the reduction of greenhouse gasses we may be able to slow down the process of global warming. If we could reduce the amount of acid rain that falls with every rainfall, we could save a lot of money on property damages. However, the Clean Air Act of 1970 cannot succeed in doing this on its own.

References

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Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/carbon_monoxide.aspx

China and Coal. (1997, January 11). Retrieved September 6, 2009, from TED Case Studies:

http://www1.american.edu/TED/chincoal.htm

Ecology & Cannabis Hemp. (n.d.). Retrieved September 6, 2009, from Hemp Evolution:

http://www.hempevolution.org/ecology/ecology.htm

Kubasek, N. K., & Silverman, G. S. (2008). Environmental Law. In Environmental Law (6 ed., pp. 191-193).

Upper Saddle river, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

nitric oxide. (2008). Retrieved September 6, 2009, from The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition:

Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/nitric_oxide.aspx

nitrogen dioxide. (2005). Retrieved September 6th, 2009, from World Encyclopedia: Encyclopedia.com:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-nitrogendioxide.html

sulfur dioxide. (2008). Retrieved September 6, 2009, from The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition:

Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/sulfur_dioxide.aspx

Tucker, T. (2005). Retrieved September 6, 2009, from Lead Pollution and its Affects on the Environment:

http://www.belleville.k12.wi.us/bhs/health/environment/leadpollution.htm

Wong, G. (2009). China faces 3rd case of kids' mass lead poisoning. Retrieved September 6, 2009, from

Miami Herald: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/1210061.html