Air Pollution Facts
15. An average American breathe 2 gallons of air per minute which means around 3400 gallons of air each day.
14. Smog hanging over cities is the most familiar and obvious form of air pollution.
13. In March 2011, a very powerful earthquake in the sea (tsunami) hit the Japan coast. The sea level rose and water came into the land, damaging 4 of the 6 reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
12. Indoor air quality is one of the EPA’s top five environmental risks to public health.
11. The air we breathe in many cities is being polluted by driving cars and trucks; burning coal, oil, and other fossil fuels; and manufacturing chemicals.
10. Air pollution affects kids more than adults because, for their body size, kids breathe more air and spend more time playing outside.
9. Scientific studies have linked particle pollution, especially fine particles, with a series of significant health problems, including: premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing.
8. A major air pollutant in cities is the ozone that occurs at ground level. When inhaled, ozone causes reduced lung capacity, choking, and coughing.
7. In the U.S., smog is largely considered a problem that's unique to Los Angeles, thanks to both a high concentration of traffic and a geographic landscape that traps buildup in the picturesque peaks and valleys.
6. In 2009 China burned nearly half of the world's coal, and coal accounts for nearly 70% of China's energy mix.
5. Inhaling Air pollution takes away at least 1-2 years of a typical human life.
4. There are different kinds of pollution—some visible, some invisible—that contribute to global warming. Generally any substance that people introduce into the atmosphere that has damaging effects on living things and the environment is considered air pollution.
3. Air can be polluted both indoors and outdoors. Tobacco and other kinds of smoking are examples of indoor air pollution.
2. Common indoor air pollutants include dust mites, pollen, mold, radon, carbon monoxide, excessive carbon dioxide, and other chemical fumes.
1. The average adult breathes 3,000 gallons of air per day.
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