Relevant Laws and Prevention Strategies

 U.S. Congress passed the Clean Air Acts in 1970, 1977, and  Directs the EPA to establish national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for six outdoor criteria pollutants.

 For the most part, this act has been very successful with meaningful drops in the six criteria pollutants since its passage. Primary PollutantReduction Percentage (2003 EPA report) Lead93% Carbon Monoxide41% VOCs40% Particulate Matter (<10 microns) (<2.5 microns) 34% 8% Sulfur Dioxide33% Nitrogen Oxide15% Ground Level Ozone14%

 Continuing to rely on pollution cleanup rather than prevention.  Ban on leaded gasoline attributed to major drop in this pollutant, yet other substances have not been banned.  Congress has not required increase in the fuel- efficiency standards for vehicles.  Inadequate regulation of two-cycle gasoline engines.  Lawn mowers, leaf blowers, jet skis, etc.  1-hour ride on a typical jet ski produces the same amount of pollution as the average car does in 1 year.  No regulation of oceangoing ships in American ports.  Clean Air Acts do not deal with reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.  Nothing to deal with indoor pollution  BETTER ENFORCEMNT

STATIONARY SOURCEMOTOR VEHICLE  Burn low-sulfur coal  Remove sulfur from coal  Convert coal to a liquid or gaseous fuel  Shift to less polluting fuels  Disperse emissions above thermal inversion layer  Remove pollutants after combustion  Tax each unit of pollution produced  Mass transit  Bicycles and walking  Less polluting engines  Improve fuel efficiency  Remove older cars  Give tax incentives for buying energy-efficient cars  Restrict driving in polluted areas  Car exhaust inspections  Stricter emission standards