Air Pollutant Emissions (UK vs US)

Facts

Air pollution in the UK is a major cause of diseases such as asthma, lung disease, stroke, and heart disease, and is estimated to cause forty thousand premature deaths each year, which is about 8.3% of deaths, while costing around £40 billion each year. Air pollution is monitored and regulated.

The Clean Air Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect public health by regulating the emissions of these harmful air pollutants. The NRDC has been a leading authority on this law since it was established in 1970.

FURTHER READING

Brunekreef, B., & Holgate, S. T. (2002). Air pollution and health. Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11274-8

Kampa, M., & Castanas, E. (2008). Human health effects of air pollution. Environmental Pollution. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2007.06.012

Riojas-Rodríguez, H., Romieu, I., & Hernández-Ávila, M. (2017). Air pollution. In Occupational and Environmental Health. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190662677.003.0018

Pollution

Pollution Statistics

Pollution is one of the biggest global killers, affecting over 100 million people. That’s comparable to global diseases like malaria and HIV.

Cleanups can save animals’ lives and discourage people from littering in the future. Take initiative and host a cleanup -- wearing anything but clothes! -- at a park near you. Sign up for 

In 1975, the National Academy of Sciences estimated that ocean-based sources, such as cargo ships and cruise liners had dumped 14 billion pounds of garbage into the ocean.

Over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals are killed by pollution every year.

People who live in places with high levels of air pollutants have a 20% higher risk of death from lung cancer than people who live in less-polluted areas.

Further Reading

1. World Health Organization. "Climate change and health." 2014. Web Accessed April 25, 2015. ↩︎

2. Keep America Beautiful. “LITTER IN AMERICA.” 2010. Web Accessed April 25, 2015. ↩︎

3. California Coastal Commission. "Marine Debris." State of California. Web Accessed April 25, 2015. ↩︎

4. United Nations Environment Programme. "Marine Liter: Trash that Kills." Web Accessed April 25, 2015. ↩︎

5. Grens, Kerry. "Air pollution tied to lung cancer in non-smokers." Thomas Reuters, 2011. Web Accessed April 25, 2015. ↩︎