AIR POLLUTION EVENTS IN HISTORY
1970s-1980s

1970: First Earth Day celebration.

1970: Congress passes the Clean Air Act, allowing the newly created Environmental Protection Agency to set national air quality standards. Also allowed states to establish their own stricter standards, which California was the first state to take such action.

1975: Catalytic converter developed and used on auto emissions systems. This development cuts hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions by 96 percent and nitrogen oxides by 75 percent.

1977: Revised Clean Air Act Amendments passed by Congress, providing more time for areas with more serious air quality problems to comply with standards. Vehicle evaporative emissions standards created.

1980: With phase out of lead in gasoline, blood-lead levels drop by 50%.

1981: Federal Tier 0 emission standards implemented.

1984: Methyl isocyanate gas release from Union Carbide plant kills 16,000 people.

1987: Indoor Air Quality Act first introduced into Congress to address the pervasive problem of indoor air pollution.

1989: EPA publishes first Toxic Release Inventory.