Air Act Clean Problems Law Chemicals Protection Make

The Clean Air Act of 1963 is a U.S. federal law that was designed to control "air pollution" (dirt and dangerous chemicals in the air) throughout the country. Under the law, the "Environmental Protection Agency" (EPA) must create and "enforce" (make sure people follow) "regulations" (rules) about "airborne" (carried by the air) "contaminants" (things that make something dirty or impure). The law has been "amended" (changed and/or added to) several times to make it more "comprehensive" (broader; covering more things).

The EPA website states that its enforcement of the Clean Air Act has reduced air pollution and "prevented" (not allowed to happen) many serious health effects that would "otherwise" (in other cases; if they had not enforced the law) have resulted from air pollution. The Act covers many air pollutants, as well as "acid rain" (rain that mixes with chemicals in the air to become acidic before it falls to the ground), "ozone depletion" (a reduction in the thickness of an atmospheric layer that provides protection against the sun's UV rays), "factory" (where things are manufactured) and "aircraft" (airplanes) "emissions" (gases that are released into the air), and "evaporation" (the conversion of a liquid into a gas) of gasoline from automobiles.

One important "aspect" (component; part) of the Clean Air Act is that it "addresses" (deals with; handles) "interstate" (involving more than one state) air pollution. This helps states work together to address air pollution problems in a large area, such as when a large "metropolitan area" (city and the surrounding area) goes across state borders.