Water And Air Pollution Plan
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Exactly 6 years ago today the Air Quality Index in Louisville, Kentucky was 101. This number means that the air in the city is unhealthy for sensitive groups of people who have respiratory problems such as asthma and emphysema. The determining pollutant in the air is PM2.5 which is inhalable particulates. Today the Air Quality Index level reads 88 which means the air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. This progress year by year shows us the steps that Louisville is taking to improve the quality of the air in the big city! This information was retrieved from the LouisvilleKY.gov website. Below is also a chart which explains the Air Quality Index levels. This table was taken from airnow.gov
Air Quality Index
Levels of Health Concern
Numerical
Value
Meaning
Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Moderate
51-100
Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
101-150
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
Unhealthy
151-200
Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Very Unhealthy
201-300
Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects.
Hazardous
> 300
Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
The problem that Louisville has been facing is the millions of pounds of emissions its industries release in the air. These emissions are discharged through smokestacks and leaking pipes. This issue not only brings forward concerns about the general population but also the coming of a better economy for the region.
The releasing of these chemicals into the air has contributed to humans getting cancer, heart disease and asthma. These diseases are on the rise even though some of the industrial waste and pollutants have decreased. Every local and state official is educated of these pollutants and they have actually taken good strides to reduce the amount of population in the air of Louisville. The total amount of toxics and pollutants that were released into the air from twenty years ago has decreased by sixty percent. Of course this tells us that the politicians were spending