| Increasing use of toxic industrial chemicals, | | | | hazards. |
| slow pace of disposal of toxic wastes from | | | | |
| contaminated sites and lack of effective | | | | The U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970 and its later |
| control in reducing emission of greenhouse | | | | amendments define air quality and purity |
| gases like carbon dioxide are contributing to | | | | standards and compelled market forces and |
| global warming and polluting the environment. | | | | industries to control air pollution. Clean |
| Cutting of trees, cleaning and reducing | | | | Water Act (1972) defines the U.S. water |
| forested areas and slow replenishing of | | | | quality and purity standards, its 1987 |
| forested areas are making the effects of | | | | amendment laid down norms for controlling |
| pollution more devastating. | | | | emission of toxic pollutants and the 1990 |
| | | | amendment made laws to control hazards from |
| In recent times the effects of pollution have | | | | oil spill. Comprehensive Environmental |
| been draining the nutrients from soil, | | | | Response, Compensation and Liability Act |
| reducing major marine life, increasing the | | | | provided for companies to clean toxic wastes |
| presence of harmful microorganisms in water | | | | from contaminated sites. Emergency Planning |
| and having adverse effects on the | | | | and Community Right-to-Know Act (1986) has |
| biodiversity. American Long Association has | | | | made it mandatory for the companies to |
| reported that particle pollution resulting | | | | disclose information about the toxic gases |
| from emissions from power plants, vehicles, | | | | and chemicals they release into air, water |
| burning of wood and agricultural products is | | | | and land. |
| increasing risks of asthma attacks, heart | | | | |
| attacks, cancer and other breathing problems. | | | | All these laws provide opportunities to |
| The same report says that nearly 23 percent | | | | people to file public interest suits whenever |
| of Americans live under conditions of | | | | they find something wrong being done to |
| particle pollution through out the year | | | | pollute the environment. |
| exposing themselves to serious health | | | | |