Clean Air Act is a United States law that seeks to control air pollution. The law, and its amendments, regulate the wastes produced by industrial processes, by the burning of fuel, and by other sources.
The Congress of the United States passed the country’s first Clean Air Act in 1963. The law set federal emissions standards—that is, limits on the amount of waste that can be released—for many factories and other facilities. It also promoted scientific research and investigations aimed at improving the country’s air quality. Amendments to the act during the 1960’s addressed pollution coming from automobiles and other sources that were not covered by the original act.
The Clean Air Act of 1970 replaced the 1963 law. The 1970 act strengthened emissions standards and required fuel producers to develop cleaner-burning fuels. It also required automobile manufacturers to equip new vehicles with pollution-control devices called catalytic converters. In addition, many power plants and factories were forced to install devices called scrubbers to reduce the amount of waste that reaches the air. In 1990, amendments to the act further promoted the use of cleaner fuels and technologies.
Many other countries have laws that seek to limit or prevent air pollution. Such laws include the British Clean Air Acts of 1956, 1968, and 1993; India’s Air Act of 1981; and China’s 1987 Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law.
See also Air pollution .
