Clean Air Act and the Components and Prevention of Air Pollution Essay

Clean Air Act and the Components and Prevention of Air Pollution - Essay Example The aim of the Act is to provide clean air that is safe to breathe for all the residents of America. Protection of the public health is the main goal of the Act although the law also looks out to protect the environment from the pollution caused by air. The Environmental Protection Agency of the United States sets the national standard of air quality. The quality will protect the residents from the common pollutants like ozone, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide. It is the duty of the state governments to chalk out plans that will meet the standards within a particular period of time. The other major sources of pollution include automobiles, trucks and power plants. The EPA sets the national standards of pollution for these sources as well. In 1970, the provisions of the Clean Air Act were passed by the congress. In 1977 and 1990, the law was amended to extend the deadlines. The basic motto of the Act has remained intact while development of new strategies for air preventing air pol lution is on progress. The act tested tremendous success. It has provided the society will cleaner air along with improvement in public health. There is 98 percent drop in the emissions of toxic lead and 35 percent drop in the emissions of sulphur dioxide. There is increase in driving by 127 percent but even then the carbon monoxide emissions have dropped by 32 percent. Even now the health of millions of Americans is at risk as many parts of the country are still involved in violating the law. (Clean Air Trust). The first two decades after the implementation of the Act resulted in