If there is any good news about air pollution, it is that the problem used to be far, far worse. In 1970, Congress created the Environment Protection Agency and instituted the Clean Air Act, which gave the federal government authority to move against air polluters. Today, the EPA is the impetus for a number of programs that help reduce air pollution, working in conjunction with states, tribes, industry, local governments and environmental groups.

But all these efforts still do not create pristine air. Polluted air is found indoors and outdoors, and the evidence of its existence can be found everywhere. Buildings, statues, trees, crops and other man-made structures all show wear and tear from polluted air. If you live in a particularly polluted environment, you have the potential to ingest materials that may be harmful to overall health. You may also experience trouble with haze on certain days and get an “air advisory,” which warns that it is not a good idea to exercise outdoors or to let people with existing respiratory conditions exert themselves.

Health Hazards of Pollution

The nose and eyes are common victims of polluted air. Polluted air can irritate the throat and make breathing difficult for those with existing lung problems or particular sensitivities. When airborne particles and ozone get too high, the 30 million United States adults and children with asthma and other breathing issues have problems, and those with heart disease also suffer.

Air pollution comes in many forms and has many components. It can even comprise such toxic chemicals as vinyl chloride and benzene, both found to cause birth defects, cancer, long-term lung injuries, nerve problems and brain damage.

Even when pollution isn't directly causing human health problems, it can create other troubling issues. Pollution can work to thin the ozone layer, leading to skin cancer and cataract problems, and enough of a buildup can create acid rain and ground-level ozone that damages trees, wildlife, crops and lakes.