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Air Background Information

see also Air Curriculum Resources

Air Pollution

Air Defenders - the Quest for Clean Air Exit EPA disclaimer
Learn how burning garbage in the open air causes pollution and health problems. This site is aimed at students 10 and up. It presents alternatives to open burning (recycle, trash dump, reuse, compost). Students earn their Air Defender badge while pursuing their quest to clean the air and protect community health.
www.airdefenders.org

Air Graphics Zip Code Locator
The AirData Web site gives you access to air pollution data for the entire United States. Want to know the highest ozone level measured in your state last year? Ever wonder where air pollution monitoring sites are located? Are there sources of air pollution in your town? You can find out here! AirData produces reports and maps of air pollution data based on criteria that you specify.
epa.gov/air/data

A Citizens Guide to Radon
The complete guide to taking action to lower the radon level in your home. It offers strategies for testing and discussions of what steps to take after you have tested, discussions of the risk of radon and radon myths.
epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/citguide.html

Environmental Effects of Acid Rain
Fact sheets answering what is acid rain, what are its causes, and what are its effects on our planet.
epa.gov/airmarkt/acidrain/effects/

AIRNOW
Get up-to-the-minute information about air pollution in your community. Includes maps, forecasts, and information about the health effects of air pollution.
epa.gov/airnow

Air Quality Status and Trends
This brochure highlights the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's most recent evaluation of status and trends in our nation's air quality. The data is from 1997, which is the most recent available.
epa.gov/oar/aqtrnd97/brochure/

Easy Breathers Exit EPA disclaimer
Pollution emissions from transportation are a major ingredient in global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, asthma, ground-level ozone (a.k.a., smog) formation and other problems. We're responsible for these emissions. The way we choose to get around today impacts our world tomorrow - the land, the water, and the air. A group of high school students, teachers, and a professional video crew got together to produce this site. So check it out, already!
www.easybreathers.org/

Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
This site provides information on indoor air quality in school buildings and how to order the Tools for Schools Action Kit. The kit shows how to carry out a practical plan of action to improve indoor air quality at little or no cost using common-sense activities and in-house staff.
epa.gov/iaq/schools/

The Inside Story
This brochure provides basic facts about pollutants found inside our buildings and homes and helps you decide what actions to take to reduce the level of indoor air pollution.
epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html

Your Car and Clean Air (PDF, 3pp, 69K, About PDF )
A fact sheet that answers some common questions about reducing emissions from private vehicles--cars are a major source of air pollution in the United States.
epa.gov/otaq/consumer/18-youdo.pdf

The Atmosphere

Global Warming
Detailed information about global warming concepts and developments: what it is, what it can do, and what's being done about it. Access the Greenwire news service for global warming news and the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
epa.gov/globalwarming/

Ozone Depletion
Find links to articles that give overviews of ozone depletion, shorter pieces that focus on specific aspects of ozone depletion, international organizations that issue regular updates, as well as images and animations of ozone levels and ozone depletion.
epa.gov/ozone/science/

Ozone: Good Up High, Bad Nearby
Ozone acts as a protective layer high above the Earth, but it can be harmful to breathe. This publication provides basic information about ground-level and high-altitude ozone.
epa.gov/oar/oaqps/gooduphigh/

Sunwise Schools Program
SunWise Partner Schools sponsor classroom and school-wide activities that raise children's awareness of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and simple sun safety practices. For grades K-8. The SunWise Toolkit is free to registered schools.
epa.gov/sunwise/

Resources

Nature Net Exit EPA disclaimer
Detailed materials about natural resources that the National Park Service maintains, including biology, geology, air, and water. Check Links to Learning for environmental education resources from different Parks.
www.nature.nps.gov/

NOAA Education Web site Exit EPA disclaimer
Explore this site to find the information you need to teach students about weather, climate change, and oceans. You'll find activities, background information, and much more!
www.education.noaa.gov/

Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act
A brief introduction to the 1990 version of the Clean Air Act, to help you understand what is in the law and how it may affect you.
epa.gov/oar/oaqps/peg_caa/pegcaain.html

What's Up with the Environment Exit EPA disclaimer
If you need a single lesson or a longer term project, visit this site for extensive and multimedia background information and plans for projects about water, land, air and energy. Students can explore environmental issues, formulate and find answers to questions about the environment, and explore "Cool Careers" for ideas about an environment-related job.
www.thirteen.org/edonline/wue/

 

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