Some air pollution facts are:
- Over half of the United States population lives in areas which have unhealthy levels of either ozone or particle pollution.
- It’s estimated that 81 million Americans live in areas with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution and 66 million live in areas with chronically unhealthful levels of particle pollution.
- Air pollution found in large and midsize U.S. cities increases the risk of premature death from lung cancer and heart disease.
- Air pollution contributes to lung disease, which claims close to 341,500 lives in America every year and is the third-leading cause of death in the United States.
- The Environmental Protection Agency ranks poor indoor air quality among the top five environmental risks to public health. Interestingly, five out of 10 Americans are not aware of this fact.
- Levels of air pollution inside the home can be two to five times higher (and occasionally 100 times higher) than outdoor levels. (Source: American Lung Association)
- "Primary" standards are designed to establish limits to protect public health, including the health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly.
- "Secondary" standards set limits to protect public welfare, including protection against decreased visibility and damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.
Visibility Reduction Due to Light Scattering
