Children breathe even more air per pound of body weight and are thus more susceptible to air pollution. Millions of people live in areas where urban smog, very small particles, and toxic pollutants pose serious health concerns. When people have a short-term exposure to air pollutants above certain levels, they may experience temporary health concerns, such as eye irritation and burning, throat irritation, and difficulty breathing. Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause chronic health concerns, such as cancer and damage to the body's immune, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems. The problem of air pollution is also found outside of major urban centers.
Air pollution can be wide-ranging as well as persistent.
Many air pollutants, such as those that form urban smog and toxic compounds, remain in the environment for long periods of time. These air pollutants can also be carried hundreds of miles by winds and can thus affect areas far-removed from the source of the pollution. The U.S. EPA has developed the AIRNow website to provide the public with easy access to national air quality information. The website offers daily air quality forecasts as well as real-time air quality for over 100 cities across the U.S., and provides links to more detailed State and local air quality websites. It is a joint partnership between EPA, State and local air quality agencies.