Meghan Hodges
Concerns about car pollution emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, with the unusual air pollution experienced in Los Angeles, California, termed the LA smog. This air pollution was caused by traffic pollutants and resulted in smoggy skies, eye irritation, high oxidant levels, and plant damage. In 1955, Congress passed the first Air Pollution Control Act, which aimed to address growing concerns about air pollution and authorized the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide assistance to state and local governments in researching and addressing the issue. Since then, various milestones have been achieved in controlling emissions from mobile sources, including technological advancements in engine design and the development of new emission control technologies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When was the link between air pollution and cars discovered? | In the early 1950s, a California researcher linked air pollution to cars. |
| What were the emission levels of typical new cars in the 1950s? | 13 grams per mile hydrocarbons (HC), 3.6 grams per mile nitrogen oxides (NOx), and 87 grams per mile carbon monoxide (CO). |
| What was the US government's response to the link between air pollution and cars? | The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set standards to reduce these pollutants, and the auto industry responded by developing new emission control technologies. |
| When did California start taking action against air pollution? | California formed a Bureau of Air Sanitation within the California Department of Public Health in 1966 and established the first tailpipe emissions standards in the nation. |
| When was the Federal Air Quality Act enacted? | 1967 |
| When was the Clean Air Act passed? | 1972 |
| What was the impact of the Clean Air Act? | The Act set a schedule for continued reductions in emissions from automobiles, leading to new cars that met the amended standards. |
| What are some examples of emission control technologies? | Catalytic converters, unleaded gasoline, sophisticated three-way catalysts with onboard computers and oxygen sensors, and inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs for passenger vehicles. |
| What are some milestones in controlling emissions from mobile sources? | Technological advances in engine design and higher-quality fuels, such as cleaner-burning gasoline and diesel fuel. |
| When did California's cars and fuel become the cleanest in the world? | The 1980s and 1990s |
| What is the role of the California Air Resources Board (CARB)? | CARB has worked with the public, the business sector, and local governments to implement air pollution control strategies and develop innovative vehicle emission control technologies. |
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What You'll Learn
The 1950s: Link between air pollution and cars established
The link between air pollution and cars was established in the early 1950s by a California researcher, Arie Jan Haagen-Smit, who determined that pollutants from traffic were responsible for the smoggy skies over Los Angeles. At that time, typical new cars emitted high levels of pollutants, including 13 grams per mile of hydrocarbons (HC), 3.6 grams per mile of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and 87 grams per mile of carbon monoxide (CO).
The phenomenon of smog was first observed in Los Angeles in 1943, with people experiencing burning eyes and lungs, and nausea. This event was termed a "gas attack" and was initially blamed on a nearby butadiene plant. However, when the plant was shut down, the smog persisted. In 1947, the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District was formed, marking the first such body in the nation.
During the 1940s and 1950s, scientists worked to understand how vehicle emissions varied with operating conditions and engine component deterioration. Procedures were developed to sample and quantify vehicle emissions, and initial versions of catalytic and non-catalytic exhaust after-treatment systems were created. By 1950, all major industrial sources within LA County were required to have pollution permits, and restrictions were placed on emissions from power plants and oil refineries.
The work done in the 1950s laid the foundation for future advancements in reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), formed by President Richard Nixon, was tasked with regulating motor vehicle pollution and setting standards for pollutant levels. The auto industry responded by developing new emission control technologies, and Congress authorized the EPA to regulate emissions from other mobile sources, such as trucks, agricultural equipment, locomotives, and marine engines. These efforts led to the creation of "'first-generation" catalytic converters, which significantly reduced vehicle emissions, and the introduction of unleaded gasoline, which addressed the environmental and health concerns associated with lead pollution.
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1967: Federal Air Quality Act
Car pollution became a concern in the early 1950s when a California researcher linked air pollution and cars, blaming pollutants from traffic for the smoggy skies over Los Angeles. In 1955, the Air Pollution Control Act became the first federal legislation involving air pollution. This was followed by the Clean Air Act of 1963, which was the first federal legislation regarding air pollution control.
In 1967, the Federal Air Quality Act was enacted to expand federal government activities in the fight against air pollution. This law enabled the federal government to increase its activities to investigate enforcing interstate air pollution transport. The 1967 Act also authorized expanded studies of air pollutant emission inventories, ambient monitoring techniques, and control techniques. For the first time, the federal government conducted extensive ambient monitoring studies and stationary source inspections.
The 1967 Federal Air Quality Act also gave California the ability to set its own stricter air quality rules. This was due to California's unique geography, weather, and expanding number of people and vehicles, which resulted in the state having the worst air quality in the nation. California had already taken steps to address air pollution, forming a Bureau of Air Sanitation within the California Department of Public Health in 1966. The Bureau was tasked with establishing air quality standards and setting controls on motor vehicle emissions of air pollutants.
The 1967 Federal Air Quality Act was followed by the Clean Air Act of 1970, which authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and the environment. The Clean Air Act has since been amended several times, with major amendments in 1977 and 1990, to further strengthen air pollution control measures.
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1972: Federal Water Pollution Control Act
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 was the first major US law to address water pollution. However, it only applied to interstate waters and provided financing for state and local governments. In 1965, the Water Quality Act required states to issue water quality standards for interstate waters. This led to the creation of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, which could set standards when states failed to do so.
The 1972 amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act were significant. They gave the law its modern form and its common name, the Clean Water Act (CWA). The CWA established a basic structure for regulating pollutant discharges into US waters. It gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to implement pollution control programs and set wastewater standards for industry.
The 1972 CWA made it unlawful for any person to discharge pollutants from a point source into navigable waters without a permit. It also funded the construction of sewage treatment plants and provided grants for up to 75% of the capital cost of municipal sewage treatment plants, with states and local funds covering the remaining 25%.
The CWA has been modified several times since 1972. Changes in 1981 streamlined the municipal construction grants process and improved treatment plant capabilities. In 1987, the construction grants program was phased out and replaced with the State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, commonly known as the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. This new funding strategy addressed water quality needs through EPA-state partnerships.
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1999: National Low Emission Vehicles
In 1999, the Clinton Administration, the automotive industry, and the Northeastern states reached an agreement to put cleaner cars on the road before they could be mandated under the Clean Air Act. These cars were called National Low Emission Vehicles (NLEV). The first NLEVs were released in New England in the 1999 model year and made available nationwide in 2001.
The NLEV agreement was a significant development in the ongoing effort to reduce air pollution from cars. Since the early 1950s, when a California researcher first linked air pollution and cars, various measures had been implemented to address this issue. These included the establishment of the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District in 1947, the Federal Air Quality Act of 1967, and the creation of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 1967.
CARB played a crucial role in reducing vehicle emissions by adopting and enforcing stringent air pollution controls. In 1966, California established the nation's first tailpipe emissions standards, and CARB later led the development of the catalytic converter, which significantly reduced vehicle emissions. Congress also amended the Clean Air Act to set a schedule for continued emissions reductions and authorize the EPA to regulate emissions from various mobile sources.
In the lead-up to the NLEV agreement, Honda became the first automaker to sell cars meeting California's LEV standard in 1996. By 1998, Honda had expanded its offerings, with two out of every three Honda automobiles sold in the U.S. equipped with advanced low-emission technology during the 1999 model year. This included the Honda Odyssey minivan, which met California's LEV standard for light trucks, and various Civic and Accord models that met LEV standards.
The NLEV agreement represented a collaborative effort between the Clinton Administration, the automotive industry, and the Northeastern states to proactively address the issue of car pollution. By releasing cleaner cars ahead of the Clean Air Act mandates, they demonstrated a commitment to improving air quality and public health. This initiative set a precedent for future emissions regulations and encouraged the development and adoption of low-emission vehicles.
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2012: California's Advanced Clean Cars Program
California has long been at the forefront of tackling air pollution. As far back as 1943, the state experienced severe "smog", causing burning eyes and lungs, and nausea. In the early 1950s, a California researcher established the link between car pollution and the smoggy skies over Los Angeles.
In 1966, California established the first tailpipe emissions standards in the nation, and the following year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was established.
In 2012, California introduced the Advanced Clean Cars Program, which aimed to reduce both conventional "criteria" and greenhouse gas pollutant emissions from automobiles. The program combined several regulations, including the Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) criteria, the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) regulation, and the light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas standards. The program also set a 1 mg/mi particulate matter (PM) standard.
The Advanced Clean Cars Program was an important development in California's ongoing efforts to improve air quality. Mobile sources are the greatest contributor to emissions of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases in California, accounting for about 80% of ozone precursor emissions and approximately 50% of statewide GHG emissions. The South Coast and San Joaquin Valley air basins are the only two regions in the country classified as 'Extreme' for non-attainment of the federal ozone standard.
The program has been subject to ongoing evaluation and review, with staff from the California Air Resources Board presenting yearly status updates since 2012. In 2017, a midterm evaluation of the light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas standards for 2022-2025 was conducted, and staff were directed to begin work on the next phase of standards for new vehicles. In 2022, Advanced Clean Cars II was adopted, with further reviews of the regulations taking place in October 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
Car pollution has been a concern since the 1940s, when an unusual form of air pollution was observed in Los Angeles, California. This was referred to as "LA smog" and was caused by hydrocarbon compounds in the atmosphere, which enabled the buildup of higher ozone concentrations.
The smog caused eye irritation, high oxidant levels, and plant damage. It reduced visibility to only three blocks and caused people to suffer from burning eyes and lungs, and nausea.
In 1947, the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District was formed, marking the first such body in the nation. In the 1950s, the federal government also took initial steps to address growing concerns about air pollution. Congress passed the first Air Pollution Control Act in 1955, which authorized the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide assistance to state and local governments in addressing air pollution.
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