Air Pollution California Essay

1. Introduction

Air pollutin is a public health concern and it has been since the discovery of fire. Incidents and episodes of air pollution have been recorded throughout the history. Air pollution is divided into two, it is the indoor air pollution and the outdoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution is produced in households or at offices by pollutants such as tobacco smoke, household products or pesticides.

2. History of air pollution

Origin modern air pollution was traced to the 18th century in England and the birth of industrial revolution. Manufacturing replaced agriculture activities, the population migrated to the city, and the results were very disastrous as the burgeoning population strained public utilities and services. The energy

Power plants releases smoke and ash during processing of burning of coal contributed significantly to the problem of air pollution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1940 air pollution in the United States and the complaints of the public pressured the government to do something about the problem, the government regulators had to act. The smog that formed around Los Angeles and other big cities around began to report air quality degradation.

California was the first state to pass air pollution regulations. In 1947 just shortly after California acted the government convened the first national air pollution symposium consisting of the environmental experts and the representatives of the government. This landmark symposium made the introduction of the federal government involvement in environmental regulation.

In 1955 congress passed its first environmental legislation which was upheld and supported strongly by the public and improved science. After this huge merge the United States environmental protection Agency and the effective public policy toward the environmental were instituted. (Usepa,

During that day the plant began refining natural gas, releasing hydrogen sulphide which is very deadly into the atmosphere. This gas was trapped near the ground and resulted in deaths of 22 people and 320 were hospitalized. The weather condition which was foggy together with the toxic released was held responsible for the death of people in Poza Rica. (Usepa, 2003)

2.6. London Fog (1952)

The most dramatic and detrimental incident occurred in London Fog. A temperature inversion covered the Thames River Valley; the deadly acid aerosols were trapped in the atmosphere, more people died from this incident over 4000 people died because of the deadly temperature inversion that settled over in London. It was recorded that over 4000 people suffered from bronchitis, Pneumonia, and respiratory diseases. This incident was an alert to the British parliament, immediately the burning of soft coal was barred in London.

2.7. Bhopal, India