About Clean Air
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The American Lung Association and partner organizations are fighting to protect the Clean Air Act a law that has been ensuring that our air is healthy and safe for the last 40 years. The Clean Air Act protects public health by reducing harmful pollution, soot, and air toxics and gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the ability to clean up the air.
Air pollution, including the two most widespread pollutants: ozone – the primary ingredient of smog, which is created in the atmosphere by gasses that come out of tailpipes and smokestacks – and particle pollution – the mix of very tiny solid and liquid particles in the air, which come directly from tailpipes, smokestacks, and fires – have very serious health effects including:
- Shortness of breath and wheezing;
- Asthma attacks;
- Emergency room visits and hospitalizations;
- Heart attacks, strokes, and congestive heart failure;
- Worsened chronic lung diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis; and
- Premature death.
The Clean Air Act reduces our exposure to the harmful effects listed above by regulating emissions of ozone, particle pollution, and other pollutants. Nationally in 2010, the Clean Air Act prevented:
- 160,000 premature deaths;
- 1.7 million instances of asthma attacks;
- 41,000 respiratory hospital admissions; and
- 45,000 cardiovascular hospital admissions.
For additional information, check out the following:
- Healthy Air Resources – Everything you need to know about the reason we’re fighting for clean, healthy air, including educational information, facts, and the Fighting for Air TV ads.
- American Lung Association – The American Lung Association is proud to sponsor the Fighting for Air campaign, but our work doesn’t end here.
