Summary
This post on Pollution is 1 of 3 issues that US onAir curators are focusing on in the Energy & Environment category.
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants.
Although environmental pollution can be caused by natural events, the word pollution generally implies that the contaminants have an anthropogenic source – that is, a source created by human activities, such as manufacturing, extractive industries, poor waste management, transportation or agriculture. Pollution is often classed as point source (coming from a highly concentrated specific site, such as a factory or mine) or nonpoint source pollution (coming from a widespread distributed sources, such as microplastics or agricultural runoff).
OnAir Post: Pollution
News
PBS NewsHour – April 9, 2024 (05:16)
In our news wrap Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency is cracking down on pollution from chemical plants, Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million to settle a lawsuit over last year’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the parents of Ethan Crumbley, the teenager who killed four of his Michigan schoolmates in 2021, have been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.
About
Check the Energy & Environment post for the party positions, committees, government agencies related to Pollution and Energy & Environment issues.
Problem
Air Pollution
- Health impacts: Air pollution is a major contributor to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It also impairs cognitive function and can lead to premature death.
- Environmental impacts: Air pollution can damage crops, forests, and aquatic ecosystems. It can also contribute to climate change by trapping heat in the atmosphere.
- Economic impacts: Air pollution can reduce worker productivity, damage infrastructure, and lower property values.
2. Water Pollution
- Health impacts: Water pollution can cause a wide range of health problems, including gastrointestinal distress, skin infections, and neurological damage. It can also lead to outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
- Environmental impacts: Water pollution can damage aquatic ecosystems, contaminate drinking water sources, and make water unsafe for swimming or fishing.
- Economic impacts: Water pollution can harm tourism, fishing, and other industries that rely on clean water.
3. Soil Pollution
- Health impacts: Soil pollution can expose people to toxic chemicals that can cause health problems such as cancer, reproductive disorders, and developmental delays.
- Environmental impacts: Soil pollution can damage soil ecosystems, reduce crop yields, and contaminate groundwater.
- Economic impacts: Soil pollution can reduce land values and make land less suitable for farming or other uses.
4. Noise Pollution
- Health impacts: Noise pollution can cause hearing loss, sleep disturbance, stress, and cardiovascular disease. It can also interfere with cognitive function and speech perception.
- Environmental impacts: Noise pollution can disrupt animal behavior and migration patterns.
- Economic impacts: Noise pollution can reduce worker productivity and property values.
5. Light Pollution
- Health impacts: Light pollution can disrupt sleep patterns, suppress melatonin production, and increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
- Environmental impacts: Light pollution can interfere with the behavior of nocturnal animals and disrupt ecosystems.
- Economic impacts: Light pollution can increase energy consumption and reduce the visibility of stars and other celestial objects.
Source: Google Search + Gemini + onAir curation
Solutions
Air Pollution
- Reduce emissions from vehicles: Transition to electric vehicles, implement stricter emission standards, promote public transportation.
- Promote renewable energy: Shift from fossil fuels to solar, wind, and other renewable sources.
- Improve energy efficiency: Implement energy-efficient appliances, buildings, and industrial practices.
- Control industrial emissions: Enforce stricter regulations, install pollution control equipment, and promote cleaner production processes.
- Plant trees and vegetation: Forests and plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, improving air quality.
Water Pollution
- Control sewage and wastewater discharge: Upgrade wastewater treatment facilities, reduce runoff from agricultural areas, and enforce regulations against illegal dumping.
- Promote water conservation: Encourage efficient water use in homes, industries, and agriculture.
- Reduce agricultural runoff: Implement best farming practices to minimize fertilizer and pesticide pollution.
- Restore and protect wetlands: Wetlands act as natural filters, removing pollutants from water.
- Monitor and regulate industrial effluents: Enforce strict regulations and invest in technology to reduce industrial wastewater pollution.
Soil Pollution
- Reduce fertilizer and pesticide use: Promote sustainable agriculture practices, including integrated pest management and organic farming.
- Remediate contaminated sites: Clean up areas polluted by hazardous waste, industrial spills, and improper waste disposal.
- Control soil erosion: Implement erosion control measures, such as terracing, cover crops, and buffer zones.
- Promote organic waste management: Compost organic waste and use it to improve soil health.
- Increase green spaces: Establish urban gardens, parks, and other green areas to absorb pollutants and improve air and soil quality.
Noise Pollution
- Enforce noise regulations: Establish and enforce limits on noise levels from construction, traffic, and industrial activities.
- Promote noise-absorbing materials: Use noise-reducing materials in building construction and road surfaces.
- Design quiet zones: Create designated areas, such as parks and residential areas, with reduced noise levels.
- Encourage soundproofing: Invest in soundproofing measures for homes, schools, and workplaces.
- Raise public awareness: Educate the public about the negative effects of noise pollution and encourage responsible noise behavior.
Plastic Pollution
- Reduce single-use plastics: Promote the use of reusable alternatives, such as reusable bags, water bottles, and containers.
- Improve waste management: Implement effective waste collection and recycling systems to reduce plastic waste.
- Promote recycling and composting: Encourage the recycling of plastic materials and the composting of biodegradable plastics.
- Develop innovative solutions: Invest in research and development of biodegradable and alternative plastic materials.
- Raise public awareness: Educate the public about the dangers of plastic pollution and encourage responsible plastic consumption.
Source: Google Search + Gemini + onAir curation
Websites
Government and Non-Profit Organizations
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): https://www.epa.gov/
- World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution
- World Bank Group: Climate Change: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange
Research and Data
- European Environment Agency (EEA): https://www.eea.europa.eu/
- Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): https://www.sei.org/
- Air Quality Now: https://aqicn.org/
- World Air Quality Index: https://www.waqi.info/
Policy and Regulation
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Climate Change and Environment: https://www.unenvironment.org/explore-topics/climate-change
- International Energy Agency (IEA): https://www.iea.org/
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): https://www.ipcc.ch/
Technology and Innovation
- Global Environment Facility (GEF): https://www.thegef.org/topics/climate-change
- Green Climate Fund: https://www.greenclimate.fund/
- Mission Innovation: https://mission-innovation.net/
Community and Advocacy
- BreatheLife campaign: https://breathelife2030.org/
- Clean Air Alliance of China: https://www.cleanairalliance.org.cn/
- Friends of the Earth International: https://www.foei.org/
Education and Awareness
- Climate Education Partnership: https://climateeducationpartnership.org/
- Sustainable Energy for All: https://www.seforall.org/
- WWF: Pollution Solutions: https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/pollution
Source: Google Search + Gemini + onAir curation
Legislation
See Congress.Gov links below for latest updates and for learning what bills your representatives are sponsoring.
Laws
Source: Google Search + Gemini + onAir curation
Clean Air Act (CAA)
- Regulates air pollution from stationary and mobile sources.
- Establishes air quality standards and limits on emissions.
- Requires control technologies and pollution prevention measures.
Clean Water Act (CWA)
- Regulates water pollution from point sources (e.g., factories, wastewater treatment plants) and nonpoint sources (e.g., agricultural runoff).
- Establishes water quality standards and discharge limits.
- Provides for pollution control grants and compliance assistance.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
- Also known as Superfund.
- Authorizes the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and requires responsible parties to pay for cleanup costs.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Regulates the management and disposal of hazardous waste.
- Establishes standards for waste storage, treatment, and disposal.
- Requires waste generators to develop waste management plans.
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
- Regulates the production, use, and disposal of chemicals.
- Requires testing and risk evaluation of new chemicals.
- Restricts the use of certain toxic substances.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (FWPCA)
- Extends the scope of CWA to include nonpoint source pollution.
- Establishes a goal of eliminating waterway discharges by 1985 (not fully achieved).
- Provides funding for wastewater treatment facilities.
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA)
- Regulates surface coal mining operations.
- Requires environmental restoration of mined areas.
- Sets standards for land reclamation and water protection.
Energy Policy Act of 2005
- Includes provisions to promote clean energy technologies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and address global climate change.
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
- Establishes goals for renewable energy production and energy efficiency.
- Includes provisions to reduce air pollution and mitigate climate change.
New Bills
Source: Google Search + Gemini + onAir curation
Sampling of Bills:
H.R.2562 — Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act of 2023
Sponsor: Lynch, Stephen F. [Rep.-D-MA-8] (Introduced 04/10/2023)
Cosponsors: (26)
Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: House – 04/11/2023 Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation. (All Actions)
H.R.6053 — Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2023
Sponsor: Huffman, Jared [Rep.-D-CA-2] (Introduced 10/25/2023)
Cosponsors: (68)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Transportation and Infrastructure; Foreign Affairs; Agriculture
Latest Action: House – 01/18/2024 Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology. (All Actions)
H.R.5983 — Clean Water Act of 2023
Sponsor: Larsen, Rick [Rep.-D-WA-2] (Introduced 10/18/2023)
Cosponsors: (130)
Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: House – 10/27/2023 Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. (All Actions)
S.1449 — RESTART Act
Sponsor: Capito, Shelley Moore [Sen.-R-WV] (Introduced 05/04/2023)
Cosponsors: (12)
Committees: Senate – Environment and Public Works
Latest Action: Senate – 05/04/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (All Actions)
Clean Air Act Amendments (H.R. X/S. X)
- Updates air quality standards and emission limits for criteria pollutants (e.g., particulate matter, ozone)
- Invests in clean energy infrastructure and technology
- Enhances enforcement mechanisms for air pollution violations
Clean Water Act Amendments (H.R. Y/S. Y)
- Strengthens protection for waterways from pollution sources (e.g., industrial runoff, agricultural operations)
- Provides funding for wastewater treatment plant upgrades
- Expands monitoring and enforcement capabilities
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Modernization (H.R. Z/S. Z)
- Overhauls hazardous waste management regulations
- Promotes recycling and waste reduction
- Addresses emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS)
Environmental Justice Act (H.R. A/S. A)
- Establishes an Environmental Justice Bureau at the EPA
- Requires consideration of environmental impacts on disadvantaged communities
- Provides funding for community-based environmental projects
Plastics Waste Reduction and Recycling Act (H.R. B/S. B)
- Sets targets for plastic waste reduction and recycling
- Imposes fees on single-use plastics
- Promotes investment in reusable and recyclable alternatives
Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment Act (H.R. C/S. C)
- Accelerates the transition to clean energy sources (e.g., solar, wind)
- Provides incentives for carbon capture and storage
- Promotes energy efficiency measures
National Environmental Policy Act Reform (H.R. D/S. D)
- Modernizes the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
- Improves environmental impact assessment processes
- Requires consideration of climate change impacts
Climate Change Emergency Act (H.R. E/S. E)
- Declares a national climate emergency
- Mobilizes government resources to address climate change
- Sets ambitious emissions reduction targets
Toxic Substances Control Act Reauthorization (H.R. F/S. F)
- Updates the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
- Enhances chemical safety testing and regulation
- Restricts the use of harmful chemicals
Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments (H.R. G/S. G)
- Updates drinking water standards
- Provides funding for infrastructure improvements
- Addresses emerging water contaminants
COMMITTEES, AGENCIES, & PROGRAMS
Committees
Source: Google Search + Gemini + onAir curation
House of Representatives Committees
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change
- Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
- Subcommittee on Aviation
- Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
- Subcommittee on Environment
- Subcommittee on Energy
Senate Committees
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
- Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife
- Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Energy
- Subcommittee on Water and Power
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
- Subcommittee on Science, Technology, Innovation, and Space
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Subcommittee on Children and Families
Government Agencies
Source: Google Search + Gemini + onAir curation
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Primary federal agency responsible for enforcing environmental laws and regulations, protecting human health and the environment from pollution.
- Regulates air, water, land, and hazardous waste to reduce emissions, protect ecosystems, and enforce environmental standards.
Department of Energy (DOE)
- Promotes the development and use of clean energy technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
- Supports research on carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy efficiency measures.
Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Regulates transportation emissions, including vehicle fuel efficiency standards and emissions limits.
- Promotes the use of public transportation, walking, and biking to reduce air pollution from traffic.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Monitors environmental conditions, including air and water quality, and provides data for climate research and policymaking.
- Tracks and forecasts pollution, including oil spills and harmful algal blooms.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Conducts research on the health effects of pollution, including air pollution, water contamination, and hazardous waste exposure.
- Provides guidelines for protecting public health from environmental hazards.
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Manages national forests and grasslands to reduce air and water pollution.
- Promotes agricultural practices that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil and water quality.
Department of the Interior (DOI)
- Protects national parks, forests, and other public lands, which play a vital role in air and water purification.
- Regulates offshore oil drilling and mining activities to minimize environmental impact.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Conducts research and monitors the Earth’s atmosphere and climate.
- Provides data and models to track air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and other environmental parameters.
EPA
Source: EPA
Our Mission
The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment.
EPA works to ensure that:
- Americans have clean air, land and water;
- National efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the best available scientific information;
- Federal laws protecting human health and the environment are administered and enforced fairly, effectively and as Congress intended;
- Environmental stewardship is integral to U.S. policies concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, and international trade, and these factors are similarly considered in establishing environmental policy;
- All parts of society–communities, individuals, businesses, and state, local and tribal governments–have access to accurate information sufficient to effectively participate in managing human health and environmental risks;
- Contaminated lands and toxic sites are cleaned up by potentially responsible parties and revitalized; and
- Chemicals in the marketplace are reviewed for safety.
To accomplish this mission, we:
Develop and enforce regulations
When Congress writes an environmental law, we implement it by writing regulations. Often, we set national standards that states and tribes enforce through their own regulations. If they fail to meet the national standards, we can help them. We also enforce our regulations, and help companies understand the requirements.
Give grants
Nearly half of our budget goes into grants to state environmental programs, non-profits, educational institutions, and others. They use the money for a wide variety of projects, from scientific studies that help us make decisions to community cleanups. Overall, grants help us achieve our overall mission: protect human health and the environment.
Study environmental issues
At laboratories located throughout the nation, we identify and try to solve environmental problems. To learn even more, we share information with other countries, private sector organizations, academic institutions, and other agencies.
Sponsor partnerships
We don’t protect the environment on our own. We work with businesses, non-profit organizations, and state and local governments through dozens of partnerships. A few examples include conserving water and energy, minimizing greenhouse gases, re-using solid waste, and getting a handle on pesticide risks. In return, we share information and publicly recognize our partners.
Teach people about the environment
Protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility, and starts with understanding the issues. The basics include reducing how much energy and materials you use, reusing what you can and recycling the rest. There’s a lot more about that to learn!
Publish information
Through written materials and this website, EPA informs the public about our activities.
What we don’t do
- The Endangered Species Act is primarily managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- The Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management addresses the problem of nuclear waste.
Programs & Initiatives
Source: Google Search + Gemini + onAir curation
Air Pollution
- Clean Air Act (1963): Sets federal air quality standards and regulates emissions from stationary and mobile sources.
- National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS): Establish permissible levels of pollutants in the air.
- EPA’s Clean Air Technology Center: Provides technical assistance to industries on reducing air pollution.
Water Pollution
- Clean Water Act (1972): Regulates water quality in surface waters and sets effluent limits for industrial and municipal wastewater.
- Safe Drinking Water Act (1974): Establishes drinking water standards and regulates public water supply systems.
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): Permits and regulates wastewater discharges into waterways.
Land Pollution
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) (Superfund): Addresses hazardous waste spills and clean-ups at contaminated sites.
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): Regulates the generation, transportation, treatment, and disposal of hazardous waste.
- Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act: Provides incentives and assistance for redeveloping contaminated sites.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- Clean Power Plan: Aims to reduce carbon pollution from power plants.
- Paris Agreement: A global agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.
- National Climate Assessment: Periodic reports that assess the impacts of climate change on the United States.
Research and Development
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Conducts research on environmental pollution and develops regulations and programs.
- National Science Foundation (NSF): Supports scientific research and innovation in environmental science and engineering.
- Department of Energy (DOE): Develops technologies for cleaner energy and carbon dioxide capture and storage.
International Cooperation
- United Nations Environment Program (UNEP): Coordinates international efforts to address environmental issues.
- Montreal Protocol: A global agreement to phase out ozone-depleting substances.
- Kyoto Protocol: An international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Other Initiatives
- Environmental Justice: Ensures that all communities have equal access to environmental protection.
- Green Infrastructure: Uses natural and engineered systems to manage stormwater and reduce pollution.
- Pay-for-Performance Programs: Rewards industries for reducing pollution.
Government Partnerships to Reduce Air Pollution
Source: EPA
The Clean Air Act calls for state, local, federal and tribal governments to implement the Act in partnership to reduce pollution. Roles vary depending on the nature of the air pollution problem.
Government partnerships for:
- Common Pollutants
- Air Toxics
- Acid Rain
- Ozone Layer Protection
- Regional Haze
- Operating Permits
- Tribal Governments
For Common Pollutants: A State-EPA Partnership
For common pollutants, the law requires EPA to establish health-based national air quality standards to protect people with an “adequate margin of safety.”
States are responsible for developing enforceable state implementation plans to meet the standards. In some states such as California, local air pollution districts work with the state to produce air quality plans. Each state plan also must prohibit emissions that significantly contribute to air quality problems in a downwind state.
EPA provides guidance and technical assistance to assist state planning, issues national emissions standards for new stationary sources, and reviews state plans to ensure that they comply with the Act. Preconstruction permits are required for major new and modified stationary sources. In most areas, state or local air agencies serve as the CAA permitting authority. Elsewhere, EPA is the permitting authority.
For Toxic Pollutants: National Standards with a Role for States
For Acid Rain: A Federal Program
Congress established a federal acid rain program to cut acid-rain forming emissions from power plants that cross state lines. The law required EPA to issue the implementing rules, track the trading of emissions allowances, and monitor compliance. Learn more about the Acid Rain Program
For Ozone Layer Protection: National Requirements
Congress charged EPA with issuing and enforcing rules to phase out production of ozone-depleting chemicals and to ensure proper recycling, disposal and labeling of these chemicals. Learn more about requirements to protect the ozone layer
For Regional Haze: State Plans under EPA Guidance
Congress called for states to adopt enforceable plans to reduce pollutants that damage visibility in national parks and other protected areas. EPA issues guidance on state planning and required controls, and reviews state plans to ensure that they comply with the Act. Learn more about EPA’s regional haze program
For Operating Permits: States Usually in the Lead
The CAA requires major stationary sources and certain other sources subject to federal standards to obtain CAA operating permits that contain and assure compliance with all their CAA requirements. In most areas, state or local air agencies issue the permits. Elsewhere, EPA or a tribal government is the permitting authority. Learn more about operating permits
More Information
Nonpartisan Organizations
Source: Google Search + Gemini + onAir curation
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): A federal agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment. Its programs focus on air pollution, water pollution, hazardous waste, and Superfund site cleanups.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): A nonprofit environmental advocacy group that works to protect natural resources and public health. It focuses on issues such as climate change, clean water, clean air, and wildlife conservation.
- Sierra Club: A nonprofit environmental organization that focuses on protecting the environment through advocacy, litigation, and grassroots organizing. It has over 3 million members and has been active in environmental protection for over a century.
- Audubon Society: A nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting birds and their habitats. It conducts research, does advocacy, and educates the public about the importance of birds.
- National Wildlife Federation: A nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and their habitats. It does research, does advocacy, and educates the public about the importance of wildlife.
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): A global organization that works to protect the environment. It sets standards, provides technical assistance, and promotes cooperation among countries on environmental issues.
- World Health Organization (WHO): A global organization that works to protect human health. Its programs include monitoring air pollution, water pollution, and climate change, and provides guidance on how to reduce their impacts on health.
Partisan Organizations
Source: Google Search + Gemini + onAir curation
Democratic Organizations:
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): A science-based organization that works to protect the environment by advocating for policies that address climate change, air pollution, and water contamination.
- Sierra Club: The oldest and largest environmental organization in the United States, with a focus on protecting public lands, conserving wildlife, and promoting clean energy.
- League of Conservation Voters (LCV): A political organization that supports candidates who prioritize environmental protection and holds elected officials accountable for their environmental records.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): A legal and policy-based organization that uses science and law to protect human health and the environment.
Republican Organizations:
- American Conservation Coalition (ACC): A non-profit organization that promotes free-market solutions to environmental challenges, focusing on policies that support conservation, stewardship, and property rights.
- ConservAmerica: A conservative environmental organization that works to promote responsible energy development, clean air and water, and sustainable land use.
- Republican Environmental Policy Institute (REPI): A think tank that provides research and analysis on environmental issues from a conservative perspective.
- American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF): A non-profit organization that advocates for policies that promote economic growth and job creation, while considering environmental concerns.
“Pollution in the US” (Wiki)
As with many countries, pollution in the United States is a concern for environmental organizations, government agencies and individuals.
Pollution from U.S. manufacturing has declined massively since 1990 (despite an increase in production). A 2018 study in the American Economic Review found that environmental regulation is the primary driver of the reduction in pollution.[1]
Land
Examples of land pollution include:
Superfund
Air
Air pollution is caused predominantly by burning fossil fuels, cars and much more.[2] Natural sources of air pollution include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds, and natural radioactivity. These natural sources of pollution often soon disperse and thin settling near their locale. However, major natural events such as volcanic activity can convey throughout the air spreading, thinning and settling over continents.[3] Fossil fuel burning for heating, electrical generation, and in motor vehicles are responsible for about 90% of all air pollution in the United States.[4]
Water
Freshwater
In a report published in the November 12, 2008 online issue of Environmental Science and Technology, researchers found that freshwater pollution by phosphorus and nitrogen costs U.S. government agencies, drinking water facilities and individual Americans at least $4.3 billion annually. Of that, they calculated that $44 million a year is spent just protecting aquatic species from nutrient pollution.[5]
Oceans
Oils
- 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill
- 2007 San Francisco Bay oil spill
- 2008 New Orleans oil spill
- 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill
- 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Pesticides
The use of DDT and its consequences as a pollutant is attributed as sparking the environmental movement in the United States.
Radioactivity
Waste
Plastic Waste
See also resources-conservation-and-recycling
In 2015 study, the scientists also published a chart listing the top 20 nations contributing plastic waste, which has since been widely circulated. The top five plastic polluters included China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. The United States ranked twentieth, the only wealthy nation on the list.[6] “We were not attempting to re-do the 2015 study,” says Kara Lavender Law, a marine scientist at the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and the new study’s lead author. “The whole point was to examine the United States.”[6] Analysing, 2016 data, the team found that as much as 3 percent of all plastic waste generated in the U.S. was either littered or illegally dumped in the environment. In all, the United States contributed up to 2.24 million metric tons into the environment in 2016, and of that, more than half—1.5 million metric tons—was along coastlines, meaning it had a high probability of slipping into the oceans.[6]
Polystyrene
Worldwide there are numerous environmental organizations attempting to ban the use of polystyrene. One such organization in the U.S. is Californians Against Waste.[7] The city of Berkeley, California, was one of the first cities in the world to ban polystyrene food packaging (called Styrofoam in the media announcements).[8][9] It was also banned in Portland, Oregon and Suffolk County, New York in 1990.[10] Now, over 20 US cities have banned polystyrene food packaging, including Oakland, California, on Jan 1, 2007.[9] San Francisco introduced a ban on the packaging on June 1, 2007:[11] Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin noted:
“This is a long time coming. Polystyrene foam products rely on nonrenewable sources for production, are nearly indestructible and leave a legacy of pollution on our urban and natural environments. If McDonald’s could see the light and phase out polystyrene foam more than a decade ago, it’s about time San Francisco got with the program.”[12]
The overall benefits of the ban in Portland, Oregon have been questioned,[13] as have the general environmental concepts of the use of paper versus polystyrene.[14] The California and New York state legislatures are currently considering bills which would effectively ban expanded polystyrene in all takeout food packaging statewide.[15]
Lobbying
Policy
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and with safeguarding the natural environment: air, water, and land. The EPA was proposed by President Richard Nixon and began operation on 2 December 1970, when it was passed by Congress, and signed into law by President Nixon, and has since been chiefly responsible for the environmental policy of the United States.
Environmental Discrimination
Environmental Justice is defined as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies” by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.[16] It is a social movement that aims to ensure all citizens have equal rights and opportunities to reside in a safe environment. The movement began in the 1980s as evidence was mounting that companies were targeting minority and low-income communities. Due to the lack of community action among minorities and low-come, corporations found little resistance when applying to build environmentally polluting factories.[17]
Executive Order 12898
On February 11, 1994, President William Clinton signed Executive Order 12898 “Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations”. Its purpose was to create the “Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice”. It provided directions to the “Working Group” on how to develop and manage an effective system for preventing environmental injustices. The “Working Group” was made up of various heads of federal agencies and tasked with creating guidelines for reporting, tracking, and developing regulations to curb environmental discrimination.[18]
Plan EJ 2014
In 2014, EPA has a strategy known as Plan EJ 2014. It is not, however, a rule or regulation.[19]
The goals of the plan are to:
• Protect health in communities over-burdened by pollution
• Empower communities to take action to improve their health and environment
• Establish partnerships with local, state, tribal and federal organizations to achieve healthy and sustainable communities.
The Toxic 100
Common offenders of environmental discrimination are corporations that build environmentally hazardous sites. These are typically waste processing facilities, energy companies such as coal plants, chemical plants, and manufacturers who use specific chemicals known to be hazardous to both the environment and/or human health. Other industries known for being responsible for negatively impacting the United States include transportation and energy mining and drilling. A list called The Toxic 100 is maintained by the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), an institute at the university off Massachusetts Amherst, of the United States’ top polluters. PERI uses a formula: Emissions (millions of pounds) x Toxicity x Population Exposure. Population is measured by its proximity to nearby residents, as well as, prevailing winds and the height of smokestacks. The data on chemical releases come from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).[20]
See also
- Cancer Alley
- Environment of the United States
- Environmental racism
- Environmental racism in Europe
- Uranium mining and the Navajo people
- List of Superfund sites
- Toxic 100 – the top 100 polluters in the US
- Regional Clean Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM, an emission trading scheme in California)
- Anderson v. Cryovac – a landmark federal case concerning toxic contamination in Woburn, Massachusetts
- Hexavalent chromium pollution in the United States
References
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- ^ Bloom, Paul R. ‘Environmental Encyclopedia. Acid Rain’ . Detroit: Gale Research International Limited, 1994.
- ^ Freshwater Pollution Costs at Least $4.3 Billion Annually Newswise, Retrieved on November 28, 2008.
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- ^ “Business Gives Styrofoam a Rare Redemption”. Stockton Record. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
- ^ Young, Paul. “www.berkeleydaily.org » Admission Requirements At The University Of Berkeley | Berkeley Daily”.
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- ^ Goodyear, Charlie (November 7, 2006). “San Francisco / Committee approves ban on Styrofoam”. SFGate.
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- ^ Eckhardt, Angela (November 1998). “Paper Waste: Why Portland’s Ban on Polystyrene Foam Products Has Been a Costly Failure” (PDF). Cascade Policy Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ^ Thomas, Robert A. (March 8, 2005). “Where Might We Look for Environmental Heroes?”. Center for Environmental Communications, Loyola University, New Orleans. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
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- ^ “Environmental Justice | US EPA”. Archived from the original on 2014-08-23. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
- ^ Pastor, Manuel (2001). Racial/Ethnic Inequality in Environmental-Hazard Exposure in Metropolitan Los Angeles. Berkeley, California: California Policy Research Center. p. 15.
- ^ “Archived copy” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ “Archived copy” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ “PERI: Toxic 100 Air Polluters 2013”. Archived from the original on 2015-11-18. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
External links
- United States Environmental Protection Agency – Pollution page
- Scorecard Home (data about pollution in the United States)
