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Air pollution can be hazardous to human health, burning the
eyes, irritating the throat, and affecting breathing. There
is consistent evidence of the relationship between dirty air
and health problems, causing increased sick days, hospital
admissions, and even deaths. Possible health effects of toxic
air pollutants include cancer; birth defects; and damage to
the brain, nervous system, or respitory tract. Automobiles,
power plants, construction equipment, and industrial facilities
all contribute to making our air unhealthy.
During the mid to late 1990s, in Texas alone, nine areas
were classified as nonattainment or "near nonattainment"
for not meeting the national ambient air quality standard.
These included Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and El
Paso.
Southern Plains Issues:
Automobiles: mobile pollution
New Source Review
Power plants: stationary pollution
State Implementation Plans
More Resources
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Automobiles: mobile pollution
Though today's automobiles emit approximately 90% less pollution
than those built in the 1960's, these technological improvements
have mostly been offset by the increases in number of cars on the
road, the number of inefficient light trucks and sport utility vehicles
in use, and the number of miles driven each day. Some methods of
reducing pollution from automobiles include tightening tailpipe
emission standards, requiring emissions testing in nonattainment
areas, and reducing the number of cars on the road by encouraging
carpooling and the use of public transportation, and increasing
the use of alternative fuels. (source: Texas
Environmental Almanac)
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New Source Review
The New Source Review is a part of the Clean Air Act that requires
factories to install modern pollution control technology when modifications
to existing plants increase harmful emissions. Companies are able
to avoid making these improvements, however, is they can claim that
their changes fall under "routine maintenance." Industry
is currently trying to further weaken these regulations by creating
more loopholes in the Clean Air Act. Texas ranks number one in the
country in the number of facilities potentially covered by NSR,
with 1,982 sites. Oklahoma is 12th with 446, Kansas is 17th with
370, and Arkansas is 26th with 280.
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Power plants: stationary pollution
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State Implementation Plans
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like to see here, let
us know!
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