Air Pollution Statistics

Efforts to Improve

The government, industry and general public have all worked together to decrease air pollution in the U.S. Through government mandates, technological improvements and a more conscious attitude, air pollution statistics have improved dramatically.

The Clean Air Act declared primary air quality standards in order to protect American residents. In order to meet these new guidelines, many different practices were adopted. Industries made efforts to reduce emissions and to filter them. Car manufacturers attempted to make their vehicles more environmentally-friendly. U.S. residents developed more proactive attitudes about their own activities.

Air Pollution Statistics

According to statistics calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States is in much better shape today than they were several years ago.

• Americans have reduced toxic releases by more than 50 million tons since 1970. If that many tons were deposited in dump trucks, the trucks would stretch from Baltimore to Dallas (all the way around the world) if lined up bumper-to-bumper.

• Currently, it would take 20 of today's new automobiles to release the same number of emissions as a 1960s model.

• Carbon monoxide emissions (CO) have decreased by 33 percent. Forty-one fewer tons are being produced per year as a result of current efforts. Much of these emissions are from cars, trucks, buses, lawn and construction equipment.

• Large utility and industrial boilers and other mechanical devices are producing 12 percent less nitrogen oxide emissions. This is 3.3 million tons fewer each year. Nitrogen oxide is a contributing factor to ozone formation.

• Sulfur dioxide emissions have reduced by 38 percent or 13 million tons per year. These emissions are typically associated with large boilers. Acid rain has been a product of these emissions in the past.

• Dropping 14 million tons per year, volatile organic compound emissions have decreased by 42 percent. VOC emissions are a factor in the formation of the ozone layer.

• Particulate matter emissions reduced by 9 million tons per year, or a 75 percent reduction.

• Decreased by 98 percent, lead emissions have reduced by 217 thousand tons per year.

• The EPA statistics indicate that the decrease in emissions is about 48 percent across the board, reducing pollution by 109 million tons of toxic fumes.

Differences in Measurements

In the past 20 years, the measurement policies of various worldwide entities became more similar. Previously, other nations may have appeared to have better pollution reports than the United States. However, when measurements became more standard, the United States didn't stack up nearly as badly.

Education and Learning

When air pollution first started to plague the world, nobody had even thought of the ramifications or effects this would have on the environment. As acid rain began to occur and smog became a problem worldwide, it became a priority to fix.

Through research and technology, air pollution has decreased. Not only are companies striving to meet the mandates placed on them by the government, they also have consciences now, too. They know that being environmentally-aware and eco-friendly will only help them in the long term, too.

It has cost industry and car makers a lot of money to go "green." However, they know how vitally important to the world it is.

By 2015, it is estimated that the world's population will be significantly less than it is today. Further developments by automakers increase the "greenness" of today's automobiles. Increased technology has helped industry with cleaning up their emissions, and this only continues to get better. Mankind, as a whole, seems to have realized that they must protect this green Earth, as well. Evidence of this is proven every day by new recycling centers opening, new laws being passed and hybrid vehicle purchases.

The outlook for the world is much brighter than before.