Free Paper Example on Air Pollution: Deadly Threat to 7 Million People Each Year

Introduction

According to the World Health Organization, approximately nine out of ten people can breathe polluted air each day (Clark et al., 2017). Air pollution has been recognized by the WHO as the gravest environmental issue to cause a significant risk to people’s health in 2019 (Bento et al., 2015). It is because the microscopic pollutant in the air may reach the circulatory and respiratory system and destroy the heart, lung, and even the brain; hence, causing premature death to about 7 million individuals who suffer from stroke, cancer, lung, and heart associated diseases (Bento et al., 2015). Air pollution is also among the factors that cause climate change, which has fundamentally affected people’s health in diverse ways.

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Air Laws

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has closely worked with the federal, state, and tribal regulatory partners in monitoring and ensuring full compliance with the air laws and rules to ensure that people’s health is protected, including their environment. Clean Air Act (CAA) is the federal law that has regulated air pollution (Bento et al., 2015). The CAA and the national stack testing guidance offer more directives on the implementation of stack testing. It also provides the best technique for determining whether a facility can adhere to the CAA requirements. It addresses the legal and policy issues related to the conduct of the stack tests and the interpretation of the test outcomes. The Act also requires companies to develop a program for risk management. And, the Clean Water Act (CWA), requires that the territories delegated tribes and states to develop programs for air pollution management (Bento et al., 2015).

EPA Role

Concerning the assessment of the gravity of air pollution, EPA plays a critical role in developing techniques and instruments for measuring and monitoring the quality of air and assess the emission for better health protection against air pollution (Clark et al., 2017). The techniques help in regulating the quality of air that is emitted to the environment. Emission data are collected from different sources to increase emission inventory that provides a proper understanding of the atmospheric chemistry for decision-making underpinning air quality. Technology-based air sensing and analysis instruments enhance the accessibility and availability of air quality measurements (Clark et al., 2017). The agency is monitoring compliance with the air standards, identifying effective air pollution prevention and control measures, and designing regulatory and compliance strategies for future generations.

The most important environmental law that was introduced recently include the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that focuses on the environmental goals and policies on a national scale; the law enables the federal agencies to recognize the environmental results and impact on decision making (Bento et al., 2015). The law also establishes a council for environmental quality and provide national advice based on environmental issues. It requires the agencies to complete statement on environmental impact, and help in understanding how different projects affect the environment to apply available options which are less harmful to human health (Bento et al., 2015). The CAA also highlights the guidelines for revealing conventional methods and regulating air pollution from automobiles and industries.

Conclusion

In my local community, environmental health law has demonstrated significant benefits to human health and the environment. It has reduced the level of common pollutants, including carbon monoxide, lead, ozone, and sulfur dioxide, among other toxic pollutants. Such laws have tremendously reduced emissions, which have significantly improved the air quality people breathe in the community (Bento et al., 2015). The standards stipulated by the CAA has also allowed the motor vehicle fleet to be cleaner; thereby reducing the toxicity of the air and protect public health in the community.

References

Bento, A., Freedman, M., & Lang, C. (2015). Who benefits from environmental regulation? Evidence from the Clean Air Act Amendments. Review of Economics and Statistics, 97(3), 610-622.
https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162

Clark, L. P., Millet, D. B., & Marshall, J. D. (2017). Changes in transportation-related air pollution exposures by race-ethnicity and socioeconomic status: Outdoor nitrogen dioxide in the United States in 2000 and 2010. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(9), 097012.
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/EHP959