Air quality in one region of the country, world may affect air quality somewhere else. This is explained through weather patterns and wind currents. National energy production from coal-burning plants jumped 16 percent from 1992 to 1998, discharging an additional 298 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which is equivalent to annual pollution from 44 million cars.
The Northeast is affected by Midwestern coal-burning power plants because of prevailing easterly winds. Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio coal-burning plants have all seen sharp increases in production and carbon-burning emissions, a leading factor in global warming. The five states contributed an additional 85.5 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in 1998 compared to 1992, or a 31 percent of the national increase. Though production at the five Connecticut plants decreased 22 percent from 1992 to 1998 and annual carbon dioxide emissions fell 723,566 ton, according to the U. S. PRIG study; the benefits are very small because of the midwest's increase production.
Toxic air pollutants are poisonous substances in the air that come from natural sources. An example is, radon gas which comes up from the ground. Synthetic sources are chemical compounds given off by factory smokestacks; and these for example harm the environment or your health. Benzene fumes are inhaled when you pump gas into your car. This can increase your chances of developing cancers associated with exposure to benzene, such as leukemia. Other pollutants that are a by-product of power production are hydrochloric acid, which is corrosive to skin, eyes and mucous membranes; nickel, which is known to cause lung and sinus cancer; and sulfuric acid which has been linked to reduced lung function.
Public health issues play an important role with decision making of environmental issues. Health risk, is a measure of chance that you will experience health problems. Exposure to toxic air pollutants can increase your health risk. An example would be, if you lived near a factory that releases cancer causing chemicals and inhaled contaminated air your risk of getting cancer can increase. Breathing air toxins could also increase your risk of non-cancer effects such as emphysema or reproductive disorders.
Many public health issues can be attributed to air pollution that then ties into water pollution. Virtually every lake and river in Connecticut is contaminated with mercury from air pollution. Another example is the unexpected place's people encounter pesticides, such as schools and public building, where the people applying the pesticides are not properly trained or licensed. How is it that people are permitted to drill new wells, into aquifers that are known to be contaminated?
The toxic air pollutants of greatest concerns are those that cause serious health problems or affect a large number of people. Health problem can include cancer, respiratory irritation, nervous system problems and birth defects. Some health problems occur very soon after a person inhales a toxic air pollutant. The immediate effects may be minor, such as watery eyes, or they may be serious, life threatening lung damage. The health problems may not occur for months or years after exposure. Cancer is an example of a delayed health problem.
Toxic chemical releases are very dangerous because of the active life of the contaminates and the manner it enters our ecology. Toxic chemicals are released through these sources: air, water, underground and land. Each source is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the public citizen has the right to seek remedies if the regulations are broken by an individual, company or industry.
Sources of pollution that are power plants, factories or anything that releases pollutants into the air such as cars, trucks, other motor vehicles, consumer products and machines used in industry. Interstate pollution occurs when pollution travels from its source in one state to another state. Provision of the 1990 Clean Air Act was to form interstate commissions on air pollution control, which are charged to develop regional strategies for clean up and reduce interstate pollution.