Long-Term Emissions Trends
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
Please see www.epa.gov/airtrends for the latest information on Air Quality Trends.
|Before the Clean Air Act was signed into law in 1963, the 20th century had witnessed a significant and continued increase in air pollution levels. Although efforts made during the 1960's by State and local air pollution agencies in certain polluted cities in the Northeast helped reduce pollution in some local areas, emissions continued to increase on a national level. Between 1900 and 1970, emissions of NOx increased 690 percent, VOC increased 260 percent, and SO2 increased 210 percent. Emissions of these pollutants have decreased significantly since the passage of the 1970 Clean Air Act Amendments. Without pollution controls resulting from these Amendments, emissions would have continued to increase.|