In-Depth Resources

Look below for more details on air quality topics and ongoing efforts to keep the air healthy.

Reports

Toxic Air: The Case for Cleaning Up Coal-fired Power Plants
The American Lung Association released this report that documents the range of hazardous air pollutants emitted from power plants and the urgent need to clean them up to protect public health. The report highlights the wide range of uncontrolled pollutants from these plants including: toxic metals and metal-like substances such as arsenic and lead; mercury; dioxins; chemicals known or thought to cause cancer, including formaldehyde, benzene and radioisotopes; and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride.

American Lung Association Clean Air Survey
The Lung Association recently conducted a nationwide, bipartisan survey to examine public views of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) enforcement of clean air standards. The results of the survey, which show strong support of the Clean Air Act, come at a critical time, as the U.S. House of Representatives is voting Thursday on a proposed funding bill for the federal government for the remainder of FY11.  The House has proposed cutting EPA’s budget by one third, which will drastically impact EPA’s ability to save lives by protecting the public health from air pollution.

11 Biggest Clean Air Events of 2010
Eleven events in 2010 will impact the air quality in 2011 and beyond. This multimedia presentation has more details on the 11 biggest clean air events of the year, including the 40th anniversary of the Clean Air Act. This 40th anniversary year saw many events that will improve the nation’s air quality. Unfortunately, a few others delayed air pollution protection the nation sorely needs.

State of the Air
Go here to type in your zip code to find your community’s air quality grade. This national air quality “report card” issues A-F grades to communities across the country. The State of the Air report ranks cities and counties most affected by the three most widespread types of pollution.

Resources