Finding out about air pollution
Global warming is one example of how the air pollution we create can change the planet we live on; the hole in the ozone layer is another. Air pollution is a major environmental problem that affects everyone on the planet, one way or another. Why are we—a water group—interested in air pollution? Because such things as acid rain, the ozone hole, and global warming all affect rivers, lakes, and oceans and the ecosystems that depend on them. Cutting air pollution is another way of tackling water pollution.
This handy list of information sources points you to books, articles, and websites that tell you what the problems are, how they're caused, and how we can attempt to solve them. There are thousands of web pages about pollution and this is not a complete list. But it'll give you a good start in finding out about most of the issues involved.
Please note that global warming is not covered on this page. For information about that, see our separate page on Climate change.
Photo credit: The hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica caused by CFC pollution. Picture courtesy of NASA.
Last updated: February 21, 2008.
Contents: What you can find on this page
Websites
- Cool stuff for schools!
- Government agencies and international organizations
- Institutions, campaign groups, NGOs, etc.
- Air pollution and smog from cars and other vehicles
- Other human causes of air pollution
- Natural causes of air pollution
- Ozone depletion, the ozone layer, and the ozone hole
- Radioactive fallout
- Health effects
- Ecological effects
- Chemicals in air pollution
- Measuring air quality
- Air pollution statistics
- Acid rain and atmospheric deposition
- Indoor air pollution
- Laws and conventions
- Things you can do
- Search for news stories
Websites
Try these two constantly updated lists of links on water pollution:
- Yahoo! Society and Culture:Environment and Nature:Pollution:Air
- dmoz Open Directory Project: air pollution
Cool stuff for schools!
A lot of the information on this page is quite detailed scientific stuff. If you're doing a project for school, you might not have time to work through all these zillions of links. We suggest you take a look at the links below - you will probably find everything you need for your project right here!
For younger students
- Planet Polluto: The Pollutonians need your help to save their planet from the ravages of air pollution.
- The Last Gasp Gazette: A colourful 8-page introduction to smogbusting in California from the South Coast Air Quality Management District. (PDF format)
- EPA Environmental Kids Club: an introduction to air quality, global warming, and ozone from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Kid's Air: an introduction from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- The Know Zone: from the Canadian Air Resources Board
- The Kids Quiz!: a short introduction to air pollution and a quiz to test your knowledge, from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
- Search Yahooligans! for "air pollution"
- Search Fact Monster for "air pollution"
- Air pollution: an introduction for students from the Indian website edugreen
- NRDC for kids: loads of links from the Natural Resources Defense Council
- Air quality for kids: from EPA Victoria in Australia
- Sunwise school program: The US EPA's schools website about over-exposure to the Sun.
- Air Quality Program Kids' Site from Washington State Department of Ecology.
- Air quality: simple introductions from Britain's University of East Anglia. Click on the Bart Simpson icons for basic information.
- UNEP Children and the Environment: flash website
- Kids Corner: A guide to pollution topics from the US National Safety Council, including games and activities.
For older students and general readers
- Wikipedia article on "air pollution": introductory article from Encyclopedia.com
- Answers.com information on "air pollution": introductory articles (answers.com article usually include wikipedia entries and a few other sources too)
- Air pollution: introductory article from Encyclopedia.com
- Pollution: A life and death issue: by Alex Kirby. A 2004 BBC News story. Serves as a good introduction for older students (high school) and adults.
- Air quality: a simple intro from Britain's University of East Anglia
- Air pollution: basic article and further links from Infoplease.com
- Air pollution: an introduction from the Indian website edugreen
- Clean Air Campaign: information and resources for students and teachers.
- Taking toxics out of the air: A detailed brochure published by the US EPA.
- Acid Rain: A simple introduction from ThinkQuest.
- Foundation for Clean Air Progress: student pages
- Air pollution resources for teachers: details of how to obtain air pollution resources from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, California.
- The environment: a global challenge: information from thinkquest.
- Glossary of environmental terms from Environment Canada
- Air pollution causes and effects by Tom Socha.
- Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution An introduction from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Lesson plans and materials designed specifically for teachers
- Air quality for kids: from EPA Victoria in Australia. This link takes you to the teacher's page.
- Friends of the Earth Learning: Lesson plans and other briefings
- Geography standards: How Human Actions Modify the Physical Environment: Curriculum guidance from National Geographic.
- Air pollution lesson plans: from the Foundation for Clean Air Progress.
- Indoor air quality tools for schools: From the US EPA. "The Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Kit shows schools how to carry out a practical plan of action to improve indoor air problems at little or no cost using straightforward activities and in-house staff."
- Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution Includes a section on classroom activities.
- Healthy Schools: Tools and factsheets from California's Indoor Air Quality Program.
- Acid Rain WebQuest: Student activities that involve thinking about acid rain.
Government agencies and international organizations
- United States and Canada:
- UK and Ireland:
- UK Environment Agency Air Quality
- UK National Air Quality information
- FAQ about air quality: from the UK air quality archive.
- Irish EPA air quality
- European Union:
- European Commission: Air Pollution: describes the Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) programme.
- Other nations:
- Airnow: International Air Quality: Air quality indicators from around the world
- United Nations Environment Programme GEO3: Air pollution and Air Quality
- CSIRO: Air Quality in Australia
Institutions, campaign groups, NGOs, etc.
- American Lung Association: lots of information about how air pollution affects human health.
- Clean Air Campaign: encouraging people to help improve the quality of the air.
- Clear the Air: The National (US) campaign against dirty power.
- Environmental Defense: Air quality campaign pages.
- Foundation for Clean Air Progress: A lobby group, representing industrial industries, and arguing that economic progress has reduced pollution. Worth reading for an alternative point of view.
- Friends of the Earth UK
- Friends of the Earth US: community, health, and environment program.
- National Audobon Society: unfortunately very little information about air pollution, but lots about related campaigns.
- National Environmental Trust: clean air campaign pages.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): clean air and energy web pages.
- National Society for Clean Air (NSCA): UK campaign on air pollution and toxics
- Sierra Club: clean air campaign pages.
- World Resources Institute: a great source of background information and statistics.
- WWF: toxics program.
Air pollution and smog from cars and other vehicles
- Clean Air Campaign: encouraging people to reduce air pollution by using cars more sensibly.
- Air Pollution Fact Sheet (for New Drivers): from the National Safety Council.
- Transportation: Air Pollution Prevention: from California's Earth-911 website.
- Cutting car pollution: information from the UK National Society for Clean Air (NSCA)
- Cars and air pollution: A page for kids from EPA Victoria in Australia.
- Air pollution from cars: from the government of New Zealand.
- Transportation and air quality: from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Information about pollutants, fuels, and new technologies for reducing pollution.
- Vehicles and smog: a 2001 report from the Sierra Club, USA.
- Smog check and emissions information: from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
- EU pollution deaths cost billions: A 2005 BBC news story about air pollution deaths, including a section on particulates from diesel cars.
- Peering through the smog: can cars be clean: A 2004 news story about the growing menace of vehicle pollution in China.
- Green vehicle guide: from the US EPA.
- Port of Seattle: air quality and alternative fuels: Are cleaner fuels the way to solve the problem?
- Smog guilty of sex discrimination: a BBC News story from 1999 reporting findings of a Californian study apparently showing that boys and girls are affected differently by pollution.
- Smog crop damage costs billions: A 2002 New Scientist news story looks at the ecological cost of smog.
- The cost of crop damage by air pollution from motor vehicles: A 1999 report by James Murphy et al of the University of Arizona.
- Motor vehicle pollution and public health: asthma: A report from Environmental Defense (PDF file).
- Motor vehicle pollution and public health: cancers: A report from Environmental Defense (PDF file).
Other human causes of air pollution
- Garden and other outdoor fires:
- Garden bonfires: from the UK National Society for Clean Air (NSCA)
- Bonfires: The law on bonfires, from the UK government's direct.gov website
- Darlington Council bonfires leaflet (in PDF form)
- How smoke from fires can affect your health from the US government Air Now website
- Domestic smoke and heating:
- Domestic smoke: from the UK National Society for Clean Air (NSCA)
- Smoke Control Areas: from the UK government
- Why is wood smoke a problem?: from the Australian government of New South Wales.
- Home fires and firewood: from the Australian government of Canberra.
- Aircraft pollution:
- Aircraft pollution: from the UK National Society for Clean Air (NSCA). Includes air pollution and noise.
- An introduction to aircraft-related pollution: from AERCO, a community group focused on Chicago's O'Hare airport.
- Air pollution impacts from aircraft: from the UK government's Civil Aviation Authority.
- Centre for Air Transport and the Environment: Scientific research from Manchester Metropolitan University.
- Incineration of waste:
- Guidance on Hazardous Waste Incinerators: A factsheet from the US Sierra Club.
- Incineration: Lots of information from Greenpeace on types of incineration, alternatives, and the problems incinerators cause.
- Oregon Toxics Alliance: A state campaign against incinerators and other toxic polluters.
- Power generation:
- Clear the Air: The National (US) campaign against dirty power.
Natural causes of air pollution
Not all pollution is human caused. Find out more about pollution that is produced naturally in these links:
- General articles on natural pollution:
- Natural air pollution: a good introductory article.
- Natural air pollutants: some brief articles on radon, pollen, and mold spores.
- Volcanic pollution:
- USGS Volcano Hazards: information about volcano pollution and related hazards.
- Volcanic Air Pollution: A Hazard in Hawaii: a 2000 factsheet from the US Geological Survey (USGS).
- Mount St. Helens the state's No. 1 air polluter: A 2004 article from the Seattle Times.
- Remember Mount St. Helens: A website about the most destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the United States.
- Pollen:
- Pollen, pollution continue to challenge the immune system: an interesting 2005 article from USA Today, which explains how the body's immune system reacts differently to pollen and air pollution.
- Pollen linked to heart and lung deaths: a BBC News story from 2000 reporting a Dutch study into pollen pollution.
- Other natural pollutants:
- How ozone pollution works: An introduction from howstuffworks website.
- The effects of ozone pollution: health effects explained.
- Natural air pollution: sulfur/sulphur released by the oceans: How ocean sulfur is produced and how scientists measure it.
Ozone depletion, the ozone layer, and the ozone hole
- US EPA ozone depletion pages
- NOAA stratospheric ozone page: lots of scientific information about ozone depletion and the ozone hole.
- Ozone layer: article from MSN Encarta.
- Wikipedia artices:
- Columbia Encyclopedia artices:
- Ozone guarding Earth: A good introduction and a quiz from Environment Canada.
- Ozone depletion: frequently asked questions (FAQ): from FAQs.org.
- The hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica: A great picture of the ozone hole from NASA.
- The ozone depletion phenomenon: from Beyond Discovery website.
- Ozone layer: Information from the UK National Society for Clean Air (NSCA)
- Ozone depletion and its possible impacts in the UK: Information from the UK government environment department DEFRA.
- Why do ozone depleting chemicals cause holes at the poles?: An Ask-a-Scientist question from Scientific American.
- Ozone layer may be on the mend: A 2003 news article from National Geographic.
- Ozone benefits from treaty: A 2003 BBC News story about signs of recovery in the ozone layer.
- Old Fridges, Cars Slow Ozone Hole Recovery, Scientists Say: A 2005 news article from National Geographic.
- Major ozone loss over Antarctic: A 2005 BBC News story about one of the largest ozone holes ever recorded.
Radioactive fallout
- General:
- Radiation Protection: The US EPA's website about harmful exposure to radiation.
- Nuclear fallout: Introductory article from Wikipedia.
- Radiation contamination: Introductory article from Wikipedia.
- Chernobyl:
- Chernobyl.info: The official, hugely detailed website dedicated to the 1986 Chernobyl explosion.
- Fallout from Chernobyl: Lesson plans from National Geographic.
- Increases in Leukemia in Infants in Wales and Scotland Following Chernobyl: Sharp increases in infant leukaemia after Chernobyl have been observed in five countries.
- Study: 1950s nuclear fallout worse than thought: A 2002 news story from CNN about the hazards of above-ground weapons tests carried out in the United States.
- Nuclear Fallout Testing has killed thousands, a new study shows.: A 2002 article from In These Times by Jeffrey St. Clair. A new report estimates that fallout from open-air nuclear testing has killed more than 15,000 Americans and will cause at least 80,000 cancers.
- Estimated Exposures and Thyroid Doses Received by the American People From Iodine-131 in Fallout Following the Nevada Atmospheric Nuclear Bomb Tests: Testimony of Richard D. Klausner, M.D. Director, National Cancer Institute, before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, 1997.
- What we should fear in 2006: Sellafield explosion and fallout : Speculative article from Channel 4 News examines the risks of a nuclear explosion at the UK's Sellafield plant.
- Secure Energy: Options for a Safer World: Factsheets from the Oxford Research Group, printed November 2005.
- Nuclear power and terrorism: A dossier from Greenpeace UK, published January 2006.
- Nuclear Terrorism: Information from the Oxford Research Group.
Health effects
- MedLine: Air Pollution: A comprehensive list of links from the US National Institute of Health.
- Outdoor Air Pollution: Possible Health Effects: An introduction from FamilyDoctor.org
- Asthma and air quality: Information from the UK NSCA.
- Health and ecological effects of air pollution: A small collection of links from the US EPA.
- Health impacts of air pollution: a good introduction from edugreen
- World Resources Institute: Exploring the links between environmental quality and human health.
- Urban air pollution risks to children: Millions of children in the world's largest cities are exposed to life-threatening air pollution.
- Health effects of air and water pollution: Briefings and news stories from the NRDC.
- Dirty air and your health: US-based information from Environmental Defense.
- Pollen linked to heart and lung deaths: a BBC News story from 2000 reporting a Dutch study into pollen pollution.
- Smog guilty of sex discrimination: a BBC News story from 1999 reporting findings of a Californian study apparently showing that boys and girls are affected differently by pollution.
- The effects of ozone pollution: health effects explained.
- Mothers' Exposure to Air Pollutants Linked to Chromosome Damage in Babies: results of a 2005 study summarized by the US National Institute of Health.
- House Beautiful, House Breathable: Health information from the American Association for Respiratory Care.
- Health consequences of the Chernobyl explosion: The state of the debate is summarized here with charts and statistics.
Ecological effects
- Ecological effects of air pollution: Links to numerous detailed reports at California's Air Resources Board.
- Impacts of air pollution on crops and forests: Detailed scientific report from York University UK.
- Air pollution's toll on forests and crops: According to the World Resources Institute, the scientific evidence is growing that air pollution (primarily ozone and acid deposition) is causing extensive damge to vegetation in both Europe and the United States.
- Ill winds: Airborne pollution's toll on trees and crops: This World Resources Institute report summarizes forest and crop damage in the United States and Europe, examines the evidence connecting it to air pollution, and recommends that emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and hydrocarbons be significantly reduced and non-fossil energy sources introduced.
- How can we predict the ecological effects of pollution and climate change?: Results of a study reported by the British Ecological Society.
- Air pollution impacts on crops and forests: an introduction: by L.Emberson. A good, 27-page introduction in a smallish (268K) PDF file that will take a minute or so to download.
- The Effects of Environmental Pollution on North American Temperate Forests: A review by Melissa Kaplan.
- Crop archive shows pollution link: A 2005 BBC News story describing how air pollution affects fungal diseases in wheat.
- Smog crop damage costs billions: A 2002 New Scientist news story looks at the ecological cost of smog.
- The cost of crop damage by air pollution from motor vehicles: A 1999 report by James Murphy et al of the University of Arizona. Concludes that the benefits to the agricultural sector from completely eliminating ozone precursor emissions from motor vehicles range between $3�5 and $6�1 billion annually.
Chemicals in air pollution
- Toxic air pollutants: The US EPA's web pages about the toxic chemicals in air pollution.
- Pollutants: Information from Environment Canada. Covers Criteria Air Contaminants and related pollutants (e.g. SO2, NOx, Volatile Organic Compounds, etc), Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)(e.g. dioxins and furans), Heavy Metals (e.g. mercury, and other toxics
- Taking toxics out of the air: A detailed brochure published by the US EPA.
- Particles and particulates: A handy table of the different particles from the UK National Society for Clean Air (NSCA)
- Scorecard: The Pollution Information Site: Information and statistics about polluting companies in the United States.
- Volatile organic compounds: Sources of indoor air pollution; information from the US EPA.
- Volatile organic compounds: Background information from California's Indoor Air Quality Program.
- Common indoor air pollutants: A 2004 article from the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Toxic products in the home: A report from the National Environment Trust.
- Heavy metals: Information from UNEP.
- Persistent organic pollutants (POPs): Background information from UNEP.
- Major air pollutants: A very short table of the main pollutants from MSN Encarta.
Measuring air quality
- Measuring air quality: A basic introduction to scientific methods used for measuring pollution.
- Air Quality Index for Kids: The US EPA's web pages for children aged 7-10.
- Airnow: International Air Quality: Air quality indicators from around the world
- UK National Air Quality information
- Air quality standards: Information from the UK National Society for Clean Air (NSCA). Includes information about UK and worldwide standards.
- Scorecard: The Pollution Information Site: Information and statistics about polluting companies in the United States.
- Air quality in your state: Maps and information for the United States from the National Environmental Trust.
- Scientists Say Air Quality Measurements Need Improvement: A 2002 news story from the American Institute of Physics.
- Simple Device Allows Students to Measure Air Pollution: Lawrence Berkeley Lab "The low-tech equipment, which yields results comparable to those obtained by standard scientific instruments, consists of a piece of tissue paper, a vacuum cleaner, two disposable cups, a plastic bag, and a photographic print." The main project website, linked from this page, seems no longer to be online.
Air pollution statistics
- US National Emissions Inventory (NEI) Air Pollutant Emissions Trends Data: Reports from the USA EPA.
- Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators: includes air pollution statistics
- UK National Air Quality information
- EarthTrends Environmental Information: A large collection of environmental statistics from the World Resources Institute.
- Air Pollution Facts: An alternative interpretation of air pollution data from industry lobby group The Foundation for Clean Air Progress.
- Statistical Resources on the Web: Links to statistics websites, including a number of sites with pollution statistics..
Acid rain and atmospheric deposition
- MSN Encarta: Acid rain: A short introductory article.
- Acid rain: An introductory article from MMU's Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment.
- US EPA acid rain pages
- Acid Rain And The Aquatic Environment: from the Irish EPA.
- National Atmospheric Deposition Program: "...a nationwide network of precipitation monitoring sites. The network is a cooperative effort between many different groups, including the State Agricultural Experiment Stations, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and numerous other governmental and private entities."
- Lake Michigan Federation: Air Quality
- Chesapeake Bay: Water quality problems caused by air pollution
- Convention
on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
- EMEP: The Co-Operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP),
- Transport Programme Overview: Understanding the transport and fate of contaminants arriving at the Arctic ocean. Study by Norwegian Ministry of Environment
- Acid Rain WebQuest: Student activities that involve thinking about acid rain.
Indoor air pollution
- Indoor air quality: A short introduction from the US National Safety Council.
- Indoor air quality: A FAQ from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
- Medline: Indoor Air Pollution: A collection of links from the US National Library of Medicine.
- World Health Organization: Indoor Air Pollution: How big is the problem worldwide and what can we do about it?
- California Indoor Air Quality Program: Information about a variety of subjects including asthma, mold, tobacco smoke, asbestos, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and radon.
- How dishwashers pollute the indoor air: Science News, 1999
- House Beautiful, House Breathable: Health information from the American Association for Respiratory Care.
- World Health Organization: Percentage of population using solid fuels indoors:
- Indoor air quality tools for schools: From the US EPA. "The Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Kit shows schools how to carry out a practical plan of action to improve indoor air problems at little or no cost using straightforward activities and in-house staff."
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission: lots of useful background reports about home hazards like paint strippers, carpet chemicals, room humidifiers, etc.
Laws and conventions
- Plain English Guide to the 1990 Clean Air Act: from the US EPA.
- Clean Air Act 1990: Full text from the US EPA.
- History of air pollution laws in the United States: A discussion of clean air legislation from 1955 to 1990.
- Ambient Air Quality: This is a good starting point for researching European environmental laws on air pollution. It gives information about the European Union Framework Directive 96/62/EC on ambient air quality and related directives.
- Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution: administered by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
- International Joint Commission: Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America on Air Quality
- Panel of Experts Finds That Anti-Pollution Laws Are Outdated: A New York Times article from 2004.
- Factory Farms Want Exemption from Air Pollution Laws: A Sierra Club press release from 2003.
- California air pollution control laws: The "bluebook" of air pollution laws.
Things you can do
- 50 things you can do for cleaner air: from California's Earth-911 website.
- Clearing the Air: How You Can Help: from the Government of British Columbia, Canada.
- House Beautiful, House Breathable: How to reduce air pollution in your own home. Information from the American Association for Respiratory Care.
- Healthy homes: Useful links, factsheets, and guides from California's Indoor Air Quality Program.
- 50 top tips for cutting waste: Pollution comes from waste, so reducing waste reduces pollution. Try these tips from Friends of the Earth UK.
- Take action: support stronger air pollution health standards: A campaign from the American Lung Association.
- Pollution solutions: From Environmental Defense.
Search for news stories
These handy links will automatically check news archives for recent air pollution stories in the news.
