By now we have all heard about the danger of pollutants in our drinking water, pollutants in our food, but what about pollutants in our walls? Lead is a heavy metal that is a surprisingly common danger found in homes. It is used in paints, gasoline and plumbing materials and is hazardous if swallowed or breathed. In U.S. state screenings, up to 10% of the children tested under the age of 6 show elevated blood lead levels.

Whenever we enter someone’s home or a different building, we take in décor, the ambience and the smell. No one wants to be in a stinky place. For 75% of consumers, room air fresheners are an obvious choice. However, in an attempt to improve the indoor air quality, we may be polluting our indoor air with harmful chemicals and toxins.

The sun may be an important energy resource but there are some aspects about it, like ultraviolet rays, that can be downright damaging to living things, including human beings. Luckily, the ozone layer is providing the earth with a blanket of protection from these harmful rays. However, due to the activities of the human race, instead of having a thick blanket of protection, we now have a depleting ozone.

Can you imagine wearing a gas mask as you walk the down the street trying to protect yourself from the increased air pollution? Although this is not a reasonable nor necessary measure to take, microscopic pollution is a real threat, one we should at least be aware of. Particulate matter (PM) is particle pollution in the air consisting of a mixture of extremely small solid and liquid particles, as defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Nitrate and sulfate acids, metal particles, organic chemicals, dirt and dust are among the various types of particle pollution.

In 1908, an amazing invention was created in the United States: the Ford Model T. With the development of such a useful and convenient product it was no surprise that demand soared. By 1914, the Ford company had invented the assembly line to increase production and meet demand. Nearly 40 years later, the US Environmental Protection Agency became aware that our clean air needed protection.

Air pollution is a problem that besets the planet today. So many pollutants exist in the air people breathe, especially in urban environments. Some of them may cause minimal health hazards but there are those that are toxic and can cause severe health effects. Here is a list of 10 common air pollutants to be cautious of.

Climate change happens when certain elements in the atmosphere allow sunlight to pass freely, yet trap the light that is reflected back. Light enters the earth freely, but instead of leaving the atmosphere after reflecting off the ground, it gets trapped and the earth just keeps on getting warmer and warmer.