208 CHAPTER 8 Air and Air Pollution
George Steinmetz/NG Image CollectionNG MapsGlobal
LocatorCHINAtechnologies are adopted because they are less expensive,
and air pollution laws, where they exist, are not enforced.
Thus, air quality is deteriorating rapidly in many develop-
ing nations.
Many cities and towns in China burn so much low-
quality coal for heating and industry that residents see
the sun only a few weeks of the year (Figure 8.16).
The rest of the time residents are choked in a haze of
orange-colored coal dust. In other developing countries,
such as India and Nepal, wood or animal dung is burned
indoors, often in poorly designed stoves with little or no
outside ventilation, thereby exposing residents to serious
indoor air pollution (discussed in the next section).Federal courts also play a role in interpreting the
CAA. In 2008 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the EPA
must regulate carbon dioxide under the CAA, a ruling
the EPA is working to implement.
Air Pollution in Developing Countries
As developing nations become more industrialized, they
also produce more air pollution. The leaders of most de-
veloping countries believe they must industrialize rapidly
to compete economically with more highly developed
countries. Environmental quality is usually a low prior-
ity in the race for economic development. Outdated
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A coal-powered steel mill releases pollution in Liaoning Province, China. All forms of pollution
are increasing as China becomes industrialized.
What are the major sources of
air pollution where you live?GLOBALLOCAL