EPA regulatory actions and voluntary efforts have led to cleaner cars, industries and consumer products, that in turn have contributed to improvements in the nation’s air. They have also led to developments of new pollution control systems for power plants and other major sources such as Selective Catalytic Reduction, a technology that removes Nitrogen Oxides from emissions by converting it to Nitrogen and water.

Emissions of toxic air pollutants, such as benzene, have declined about 40 percent nationwide between 1990 and 2005.

These reductions are helping to improve public health

Despite this progress, about 127 million Americans live in counties violating at least one of the national air quality standards.

We can’t always predict the economic benefits of new regulations either since they invariably lead to innovation and generate new inventions and jobs.Read more at www.enn.com