If you were to try to open a steel mill or a coal factory in many parts of the country today, you’d have to jump through many different hoops. In some cases, you might not be able to at all. That’s because of the Clean Air Act.
The Clean Air Act is a set of air quality laws ratified in 1963. Today, they’re administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. Although some parts of the Act are vague, it’s nevertheless had a hugely positive impact on air quality around the country.
Today we’re going to look at some of the many ways the Clean Air Act and its amendments benefit the United States.
Read on to learn more.
The Origins of the Clean Air Act
As mentioned, Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1963.
Around that time, American industry was booming, but economic growth came at the cost of environmental wellbeing. From higher numbers of pollution-related illnesses to American rivers catching on fire, activists recognized that environment needed help.
And so, under pressure from grassroots organizations, Congress passed the first air pollution control laws. Over the following decades, additional amendments strengthened these.
Keeping Americans Safe
Perhaps the biggest benefit of the Clean Air Act is that it keeps Americans across the country safe. Although its exact effects are difficult to quantify, experts estimate that in 2010 alone, the Clean Air Act helped prevent:
- 160,000 premature deaths
- 130,000 heart attacks
- 86,000 hospital admissions
When you remember that the Act has existed for decades, the true extent of its impact becomes even more pronounced.
Helping the Economy
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a healthy workforce benefits the economy much more than a sick one. On top of keeping people safe, studies show that the Clean Air Act has helped improve the U.S. economy.
Cleaner air means fewer pollution-related illnesses, less need for medical treatment, and fewer sick days taken by workers. All of that helps give the economy a boost.
Giving Jobs to People Who Need Them
The environmental sector is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. Because of that, it has the potential to employ millions of workers. These jobs include everything from engineers and project managers to environmental protection workers.
Today, there are even many businesses that work to improve your home’s air quality.
Healthier Living for All
The Clean Air Act is one of many environmental laws that Americans take for granted. Despite that, as this guide shows, the effects it has on society are massive.
The next time someone asks you, “What is the Clean Air Act?”, clue them in. Once people have a better understanding of how important the activity is, they can work to protect it from politicians and other nefarious individuals that seek to undo it.
Purpose Of The Clean Air Act:
The main purpose of introducing the clean air act is to provide better air quality. There are many strict guidelines purposed in this act. CAA is introduced by EPS. There is the various strict limit set on certain air pollutants.
The main purpose of this act is to ensure to bring the air quality to a prescribed limit. This act comes with many strict limitations regarding pollutant emissions. Chemical plants, utilities, and steel mills are majorly targeted industries by this act.
This act is passed with the main motive to promote public health. It helped in protecting the ozone layer and reducing global warming.
Role Of Clean Air Act In Improving Air Quality
The clean air act is introduced in 1970. This act had played a major role in improving overall air quality. The major role of this act is listed below.
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Clean air act has lowered the major pollutant particles:
This act plays a major role in reducing pollutants like carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide. It has a vital role in the reduction of numerous toxic pollutants in the air.
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Clean air act has reduced PM2.5 levels:
This act proves beneficial for reducing major components consisting of PM2.5. It helped in the reduction of six major pollutants levels from the air. According to reports, pollution levels dropped by 78 percent in the U.S due to this act.
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Better breathability:
These air quality improvement acts helped in reducing pollution. The overall breathability increase with a reduction in air pollutants level.
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Beneficial to meet national air quality standards:
The clean air act was implemented throughout the country. This help in reducing pollution level in many Major cities. The air quality index of many polluted cities meet the recommended mark due to this act.
Role Of Clean Air Act In Global Warming:
Global warming is a threat to mankind. The clean air act also plays a major role in reducing global warming. This act is implemented more than Forty-five years ago. It is equipped with strict lows which help in reducing less pollution output. and provide better breathing to humens.
This act is among the great steps taken for reducing pollution at the global level. Better air quality is the main objective of this act. It helps in fixing the ozone layer. The overall pollution level decreased vie this act. It helps in the growth of the economy and has a major role in healthy air quality throughout the country.
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