When Did We Start Talking About Air Quality?

Concern over air quality may seem like a fairly recent thing, but written documents from the time of Hippocrates in 400 B.C. show that air pollution was seen as a health threat way back then. Since that time, more people and more industrial growth and advancements have all contributed to the pollution that’s in our air.

Air quality in the United States became more of a focus starting in the 1970s. President Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 to enact national environmental guidelines and monitor and enforce them. Congress also put in place much of the structure of The Clean Air Act and passed it in 1970 – aimed at reducing and controlling air pollution nationwide.

The Clean Air Act also established air quality standards, known as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Every state, local government, and tribe must meet the standards in their jurisdiction. It monitors the air for six common pollutants that are all bad for our health.

• Particulate matter
  Particulate matter is solid and liquid droplets in the air that are microscopic and can cause serious health problems when they are breathed in.
• Ground-level ozone
  Ground-level ozone is created by a chemical reaction. Pollutants emitted by power plants, cars, refineries, industrial boilers, and chemicals react with sunlight and create ground-level ozone.
• Sulfur dioxide
  Sulfur dioxide is a combination of sulfur and oxygen and it forms when things like coal, oil, or diesel are burned.
• Nitrogen dioxide
  Nitrogen dioxide is created when fuel is burned from cars, trucks, buses, off-road equipment, and power plants.
• Lead
  Lead enters the air from ore and metal processing and leaded aviation fuel.
• Carbon monoxide
  Carbon monoxide is a gas that comes from fossil fuel emissions.

Putting a law into place doesn’t mean change will happen immediately – especially when it comes to filtering out pollutants in our air. By the 1980s, Americans were seeing change and also starting to become more aware collectively and personally of air pollution and its causes.

The Hole In the Ozone Layer

There’s a healthy layer of ozone that protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Consider it as earth’s own version of sunscreen. Air pollution and emissions were steadily burning a hole in the ozone layer. In 1987, the United States along with 197 other countries signed “The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.” The treaty was designed for countries to regulate emissions of things that have caused ozone depletion and help other countries monetarily who can’t do it by themselves.

Today, the ozone hole still exists, forming over the Antarctic seasonally. The 9.6 million mile-wide hole in the ozone layer is the largest since the 1970’s, but is also expected to close sooner than in previous years.

The United States has already phased out the most damaging substances that caused ozone depletion. In addition to better air quality, the EPA says the measures will save millions of Americans from skin cancer and eye cataracts. With all of these protections in place, it is predicted that the hole in the ozone layer will close completely by 2060.

Improved Air Quality Index

The Air Quality Index (AQI) measures the amounts of pollutants in the air and ranges from zero to 500 in its measurement. Nationwide, the average Air Quality Index level in 1980 hovered around 59. The higher the AQI number, the more pollutants. So, 59 is seen as a good level. Hawaii, North Dakota, and Vermont were the states with the best AQI in 1980. Arizona, Idaho, and Connecticut had some of the worst AQI levels in 1980. Arizona’s AQI was nearly 94, which is considered to be on the high end of moderate pollution levels.

Since 1980, many steps have been taken to reduce the amount of air pollution in the United States and as a result, the overall air quality index regularly ranks in the low 20s to 50s. As of 2020, the levels were around 36 nationally – which is considered good air quality in the AQI ranking.

Pollution from Cars

Before the latter part of the 20th century, not much thought was given to vehicle emissions. But transportation was becoming a huge source of pollution. Since then, regulations have gone into effect to help. New vehicle emissions standards mean new passenger vehicles give off much cleaner tailpipe pollutants – at least 98 percent cleaner.

Vehicle emission standards have also caused innovation in technologies. Catalytic converters were created for vehicles. They convert toxins into byproducts like water vapor and carbon dioxide, which are much less harmful to us and the environment.

The fuel we use is cleaner too. Lead has been taken out of gas, leaving unleaded fuel as the industry standard. Lead was a huge source of air pollution, but taking it out of the gas we use has decreased lead pollution by 94 percent since 1980. Grades of ethanol have also emerged – which are even cleaner sources of vehicle fuel. And there is a growing popularity of electric vehicles, which don’t give off any fuel emissions.

Even though there are more vehicles on the road than ever, as a nation we have effectively cut down on pollution from transportation since the 80s. And it’s not just cars and trucks, the EPA has implemented emissions standards for trains, construction and farm equipment, and even lawn and garden equipment.

Industrial Pollution

Power plants and factories have created millions of jobs in America. They’ve also given off tons of air pollution. Now, architects of each new facility built have to include good pollution control measures as part of the design or they won’t receive their building permits.

Existing facilities have to regularly monitor and report their emissions to the government. They have standards they must meet and can be penalized for not meeting those.

Power plants have long given off what’s referred to as acid rain – which is caused by burning fossil fuels. The U.S. government established the Acid Rain Program (ARP) in 1995 requiring companies to dramatically reduce the amount of acid rain, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides they send into the air. The ARP has cut emissions significantly by giving companies many options to do so. Companies will also be penalized if they don’t meet the standards.

Besides power plants and factories, any business that emits pollution into the air has to follow and meet specific criteria and standards.

Cleaner Fuel Sources

Fossil fuels are formed over time from what’s left of living organisms. Coal, oil and natural gas are the fossil fuels we use the most in the U.S., supplying most of the energy needs in America. While they are very useful in keeping us warm and the country running, they are a big polluter. Smoke from coal has been linked to asthma and oil is considered the largest source of air pollution globally.

In the last 40 years, much research has been done on the impact of fossil fuels on the air we breathe. And in recent years, much time has been dedicated to finding renewable energy sources that are just as effective, but not as polluting.

How Can I Improve My Air Quality?

Many of the things put into place to clean up our air are large-scale actions that are addressed at the government and business levels. So, it can seem like there’s not much we can do as one person or one family.

But there are simple steps you can take to improve the quality of air. Consider carpooling or working from home when you can. Those two acts alone can help reduce vehicle emissions. You can participate in Air Quality Awareness Week. It’s hosted every May by the EPA and it provides great information about air quality and pollution and what you can do personally to help improve it.

And while you may not be able to change the air quality outside much, you can change the air you’re breathing inside your home. Air purifiers are designed to pull pollutants out of the air, trap them, and send clean air back out. They can be a significant investment, but a great way to help improve the health of you and your family.

Summary: Comparison Table

Here’s a table summarizing the differences in air quality between the 1980s and today based on the article:

Factor	1980s	Today
Ozone Layer	Significant hole over the Antarctic; major concern.	Hole still exists but expected to close by 2060; better controlled emissions.
Air Quality Index (AQI)	Average AQI around 59 (considered good), with some states in high moderate levels.	National AQI around 36 (considered good). AQI regularly ranks in low 20s to 50s.
Pollution from Cars	High emissions from vehicles; no significant emission regulations.	New vehicle emission standards, catalytic converters, unleaded fuel, and growing electric vehicle usage.
Industrial Pollution	Factories and power plants emitted large amounts of pollutants.	Stricter pollution controls, Acid Rain Program reducing sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Cleaner Fuel Sources	Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) were dominant and major pollutants.	Shift toward renewable energy sources and cleaner fuels, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Government Regulations	Clean Air Act passed in 1970, but air quality issues were still prevalent in the 1980s.	Stronger enforcement of emissions standards, better pollution control in industries, and EPA regulations.

This comparison highlights the significant improvements in air quality over the past four decades, though ongoing efforts are needed to address remaining pollution challenges.