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Looking down from the Hollywood Hills, with Griffith Observatory on the hill in the foreground, air pollution is visible in downtown Los Angeles on a late afternoon.. Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials into the atmosphere that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damage ecosystems.
Pollution from the Exxon Valdez oil spill. As with many countries, pollution in the United States is a concern for environmental organizations, government agencies, and individuals. Billions of pounds of toxic chemicals are released into the air, land, and waterways in the U.S. each year.
1947 – Los Angeles Air Pollution Control District created; first air pollution agency in the US. 1948 – Federal Water Pollution Control Act; 1955 – National Air Pollution Control Act; 1959 – California Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board created to test automobile emissions and set standards.
It was the primary energy source to power factories and heat offices and apartments. Its use led to a sharp increase in carbon emissions and air pollution. The concentration of industries such as steel improved efficiency but increased resource waste and pollution of air and water as urban rivers became dumping grounds for industrial waste.
Topsoil runoff from farm, central Iowa (2011). Water pollution in the United States is a growing problem that became critical in the 19th century with the development of mechanized agriculture, mining, and manufacturing industries—although laws and regulations introduced in the late 20th century have improved water quality in many water bodies. [1]
The American Lung Association just published their annual State of the Air report, which shows California as the most polluted state in America.
The images show what various parts of the country looked like before the air and water protections that exist today.
According to a 2024 report: "39% of people living in America—131.2 million people—still live in places with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution." Analyzing data from 2020 to 2022, the American Lung Association found the number of people living in counties with a failing grade for ozone declined, this year by 2 ...