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Click HERE to see a video primer for renewable energy. Click here to download the RealPlayer plugin. |
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**ATTENTION: American Lung Association's 2001 State of the Air Report now available at www.lungusa.org!! Check it out! |
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Air Pollution... |
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- Did you know that...
- 125,000 Americans will get cancer from diesel truck exhaust this year
- 90 million Americans breathe air that is below minimum quality standards set by the EPA
- 10's of thousands of premature deaths per year are directly linked to particulate soot from diesel trucks and coal powerplants
- In many major cities around the world, air quality from automobile exhaust is so bad that they must wear facemasks -- but that's not protecting them!
- the number of asthma cases has more than doubled in this country in the past few years alone
What can you do?...
- power your home off solar and wind; they produce no emissions and the electricity is free forever!
- drive electric vehicles to commute; they are zero-emission and fun to drive!
- older cars can produce up to 10 times the air pollution as new cars; this is due primarily to out-of-tune engines, worn out parts, and friction among moving parts.
- learn more about air pollution by reading books, reading the information on this page, and visiting the links at the bottom of this page.
- ride a bike instead of driving a car; walk more!
- conserve energy by shutting off unnecessary lights and appliances; replace your light bulbs with flourescent light bulbs -- they're much more efficient; use energy efficient appliances where possible
- write and tell your senator and state representative you want clean power alternatives; tell the automakers you want clean car alternatives
- GO AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!
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Types of Air Pollution
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O3
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COx
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NOx
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- Carbon Monoxide
- Carbon Dioxide
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Ozone
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Nitrogen Oxides
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| Sources: automobiles (60%; 95% in large cities), industrial processes, wildfires |
- Sources: formed by reaction of VOC's (volatile organic compounds) with NOx in the presence of heat and sunlight;
- VOC's: automobiles, chemical refineries, factories
- NOx: automobiles, coal plants, combustion processes
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Sources: automobiles, coal powerplants, home heaters, gas stoves |
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| Effects: (Ozone, O3) symptoms include shortness of breath, pain during deep breaths, wheezing and coughing; linked to increases in emergency room visits for asthma patients, reduced auto-immune response; long term exposure reduces lung function and inflammation of lung lining; often termed "sunburn of the lung"; especially dangerous to children and the elderly |
- Effects: (Nitrogen Dioxide, NO2) short-term: causes respiratory damage to children and those with respiratory illnesses
- long-term: increases susceptibility to respiratory infection and causes alterations to the lungs; contributes to acid rain; contributes to ozone formation; visibility impairment; eutrophication
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- Effects: (Carbon Monoxide, CO) enters bloodstream and inhibits delivering of oxygen to vital organs; initial symptoms include headache and dizziness; overexposure can cause death
- (Carbon Dioxide, CO2)
- leading cause of global warming, or greenhouse effect; impedes transfer of surface heat to outer- space; may lead to violent weather patterns, flooding, loss of crops, increase in disease
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SO2
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Others
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Particulate Soot
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benzene, mercury, dioxin, asbestos, cadmium, toulene, chromium
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microfine particles of burned soot
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Sulphur Dioxide
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| Sources: combustion of sulphurous fuels (coal powerplants, automobiles) |
Sources: benzene: gasoline fumes; mercury: coal plants, tainted fish |
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| Sources: diesel trucks, coal plants, wood burning, interaction of SO2 and NO2 to form particles |
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| Sources: (Sulphur Dioxide, SO2) principal constituent of acid rain; causes breathing problems in asthmatic children and active outdoor adults; short-term: wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath; long-term: respiratory illness and alteration of lung's defenses and aggravation of heart disease |
Effects: all are serious toxins to the human body with effects ranging from cancer to brain damage to heart disease |
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| Effects: (Particulate Soot) linked to 10's of thousands of premature deaths per year; asthma attacks, decreased lung function, respiratory problems; reduced visibility; cardiovascular disease |
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Vehicle Emissions Ratings
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This is a simplified chart of road vehicle emissions ratings. On the left you'll see examples of vehicles that correspond to each rating. Generally the only vehicles on the road today capable of zero-emissions (ZEV) are electric vehicles. A couple of hybrids (Toyota Prius, Ford Escape) and natural gas vehicles (Honda Civic GX) achieve the SULEV rating. Honda's hybrid Insight garners a ULEV rating while a good number of small engine gasoline cars and CNG vehicles achieve the LEV rating. Relatively speaking, the SULEV rating is about 75% cleaner than the ULEV, and so on up the scale. |
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Website design by JClaw Enterprises
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This page copyright 2001 by JClaw Enterprises. All trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.
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