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Effects of Air Pollution in North Carolina

Air pollution has become a large environmental concern in North Carolina. As of 2009, North Carolina is meeting EPA standards for four of six chemical air pollutants outlined in the Clean Air Act. The state of North Carolina meets pollution control standards for nitrogen dioxide, lead, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. Several areas in the state fail to meet federal regulations for ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter pollutants.

  1. Health

    • Air pollution affects everyone because everyone breathes in several thousand gallons worth of air per day. When the air is polluted with chemicals, the body also intakes those toxins. The toxicity of the air can lead to health problems such as lung and throat irritation, asthma and other respiratory problems. Children are more susceptible than adults to developing these health issues because they intake more air per pound of body mass. In North Carolina the largest air pollution threat is ground-level ozone.

    Ozone

    • Ozone refers to two completely different items, the natural layer in the atmosphere that is non-toxic and the man-made chemical air pollutant. In several areas of North Carolina the concentration of toxic ozone is high, causing the air to develop acidic properties. This results in oxidization of clothing, buildings and other materials, causing structural damage. The higher the level of ozone, the more likely it is that everything that comes into contact with the air will become subject to this acidity.

    Water Pollution

    • Pollutants from the air seep into the ground and water supply as rain passes through the chemically-laden air. Nitrogen oxides from ozone pollution also combine into nitrogen compounds, falling back to the earth and into the water supply. In North Carolina, where ozone and fine particle matter pollution is prevalent, water pollution can become a large problem. This type of pollution causes sickness in humans and animals as well as causes damage to aquatic and plant life.

    Acid Damage

    • Pollutants in the air, particularly ozone pollution, cause acid rain, acid snow and dry acidic particles to fall back to the earth. These pollutants cause damage not only to the water supply but also can damage crops, structures, trees and aquatic life. Once these pollutants are in the air, there is no way to stop them from becoming acidic and possibly damaging to a local ecosystem.

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