By Carl Pope November 7 could be a make or break day for clean air in America for two reasons. The outcome of these two events will very likely shape the future of many of our most successful environmental and public health laws.
Air pollution affects everyone's health.
Soot and smog can lead to a variety of respiratory problems. Soot and other fine particulates, when inhaled, become embedded in the lungs and can cause significant respiratory ailments, including chronic bronchitis, difficult breathing, exacerbated asthma, and even premature death. Smog, a powerful lung irritant that has a cumulative effect on the body, is able to burn through lung tissue and cell walls, causing the lungs to become inflamed and swollen. Scarring of the lungs can occur over time, causing individuals to become more susceptible to bacteria and other disease-causing organisms. A UCLA School of Medicine study found that over time repeated exposure to air pollutants, including smog and soot, can cause as much damage to the lungs as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.