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"Right now, being an Ohioan means being exposed to some of the highest levels of soot and smog pollution in the country, pollution that shortens lives," said rose Garr, and organizer with the Ohio Chapter of the Advocacy Group' (Ohio's dirtiest power plants, 1).
Pollution in Ohio has become a hot topic of interest over the past thirty years. This is mainly a concern because Ohio is ranked as the countrys largest nitrogen-oxide and sulfer-dioxide producer. Also, Ohio is third in mercury and carbon-dioxide emmissions. It is these types of emmissions that are health and environmental hazards.
Industrial wastes in Allen, Logan, and even Hardin counties are fairly severe. Combinations of lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), ammonia (NH3), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfer dioxide (SO2), and nitroden dioxide (NO2) are very common around our area. These are all produced, of course, by the industrial power plants, automobiles, and agriculture that is so common in our surrounding areas.
Much of the pollution in Ohio comes from power plants, factories, automobiles, small businesses, and even residential areas. The largest sources of these pollutants listed are: trucks, buses, cars, and construction equipment. These produce almost one-third of all air pollutants found in our area. Each year, millions of pounds of dangerous gases, chemicals, and particules are released into the air, exposing nearly fourty-six million Americans (Outdoor Air Pollution, 1).
"According to a recent scientific study, *more than 1,900 Ohioans die prematurely each year due to fine particulate air pollution, or soot, from power plants. In addition, the same study found power plant pollution responsible for 37,000 asthma attacks and 1,600 hospital visits each year in Ohio," (Ohio Air Quality Enforcement Campaign, 2).
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