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Air Pollution

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Introduction
Pollution threatens public health; In an upcoming report by the Global Commission on
Pollution and Health, pollution is the leading cause of human disability and death. In Illinois,
Chicago is one of the Metropolitan area affected by air pollution. Moreover, smog and other toxic air pollutants generated from burning fossil fuels have caused a rise in respiratory and cardiovascular problems. This essay will examine the main air pollutants and their causes in
Illinois and how they compare to other states.
Main Air Pollutants
Smog, Particulate Matter, and other fossil fuel toxins are the primary air pollutants.
Smog comes the burning of fossil fuels; this produces nitrogen. Volatile organic compounds from gasoline, diesel and other petroleum fuels. According to the "Our Health at Risk: Why Are
Millions of Americans Still Breathing Unhealthy Air?" report, nitrogen and volatile organic compounds mix with sunlight form ozone gas. However, smog is a ground-level ozone gas that produces inflammation in the lungs. The inflammation in the lungs causes damage to lung tissue which leads to increased asthma attacks and respiratory and cardiovascular health problems.
Smog pollution is most notably in metropolitan areas like Chicago, Illinois.
Particulate Matter (soot) are tiny particles of toxic chemicals that ingest into the body through inhalation. The small contaminants enter the lungs and blood stream eventually causing both short and long term health problems. “Other

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