ABSTRACT
In the past, the sight of belching smokestacks was comforting to many people: more smoke equaled more business, which indicated that the economy was healthy. But many of us are now troubled by evidence that indicates that polluted air adversely affects our health. Many toxic gases and fine particles entering the air pose health hazards: cancer, genetic defects, and respiratory disease. Nitrogen and sulfur oxides, ozone, and other air pollutants from fossil fuels are inflicting damage on our forests, crops, soils, lakes, rivers, coastal waters, and buildings. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other pollutants entering the atmosphere are depleting the earth’s protective ozone layer, allowing more harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach the earth’s surface. Fossil fuel combustion is increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which can have severe long-term environmental impact.
