Clearing the Air: The Real Story of the War on Air PollutionAmerica's air quality is better today than ever before in modern history and continues to steadily improve. How did this remarkable turnaround come about? Basing his conclusions on a painstaking compilation of long-term empirical data on air quality and emissions data extending from the pre- federalization era to the present (some dating back a century), Goklany challenges the orthodoxy that credits federal regulation for improving air quality. He shows that the air had been getting cleaner prior to—and probably would have continued to improve regardless of—federalization. States and localities, after all, have always been engaged in a race to improve the quality of life, which means different things at different stages of economic development. Goklany’s empirical data refute once and for all the race-to-the-bottom rationale for centralized federal regulation. Moreover, technological advances and consumer preferences continue to play important roles in improving air quality. Goklany accordingly offers a regulatory reform agenda that would improve upon the economic efficiency and environmental sensitivity of air quality regulation. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
| 9 | |
TRENDS IN INDOOR AIR QUALITY 1940 TO 1990 | 43 |
LONGTERM TRENDS IN AMBIENT OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES | 49 |
EMISSIONS TRENDS AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE | 67 |
THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSITION | 87 |
THE STATES AND AIR POLLUTION A REASSESSMENT BASED UPON EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE | 111 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
affluence Air Pollution Control air quality ambient amendments analysis Angeles annual areas Association average become benefits bottom Bureau California capita Chapter cities cleaner coal concentrations continued costs declined despite determined E/GNP early economic effect efficiency efforts emissions energy environment Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Quality environmental transition established estimates example fact factors federal Figure fuel Goklany greater Greenwire growth helped higher impacts improvements increased indicators indoor industrial lead least less levels major matter measures ments million monitoring motor vehicle NAAQS National Air needs noted occurred Office outdoor oxidant ozone particulate peak percent period Pittsburgh plans Policy population problems progress public health race reduce Region regulations relatively Report requirements respect response result risks Second shows smoke SO₂ society sources standards Statistical suggests Table tion Trends United urban various Washington York
Popular passages
Page 10 - the sulphurous and nitrous particles that are often found to be in the coal, with that bituminous substance which burns, are all assisting to clear and purge the air, and render it wholesome and safe to breathe in after the noxious particles, as above, are dispersed and burnt up.
Page 10 - inclined to believe, that London now is more unhealthful, than heretofore, partly for that it is more populous, but chiefly, because I have heard, that 60 years ago few Sea-Coals were burnt in London, which now are universally used. For I have heard, that Newcastle is more
Page 11 - with good reason; and the experience of the citizens confirmed it, many houses which had constant fires kept in the rooms having never been infected at all; and I must join my experience to it, for I found
Page 10 - were burnt in London, which now are universally used. For I have heard, that Newcastle is more unhealthful than other places, and that many People cannot at all endure the
Page 5 - some environmental degradation. Greater affluence provides the means for obtaining basic needs and amenities (eg, food, shelter, water, and electricity) and reducing the most significant risks to public health and safety (eg, infectious and parasitic diseases and child and maternal mortality). As society
Bibliographic information
| Title | Clearing the Air: The Real Story of the War on Air Pollution |
| Author | Indur M. Goklany |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Cato Institute, 1999 |
| ISBN | 1882577833, 9781882577835 |
| Length | 187 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |