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What regulations help control atmospheric pollutants?

The Clean Air Act and the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants are key regulations controlling atmospheric pollutants.

The Clean Air Act, established in the United States in 1970, is a federal law designed to control air pollution on a national level. It is one of the most comprehensive air quality laws in the world. The Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and enforce regulations to protect the general public from exposure to airborne contaminants that are known to be hazardous to human health. This includes pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and lead.

The National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs), also in the United States, are regulations designed to control emissions of hazardous air pollutants from a myriad of industrial sources. This includes chemical plants, oil refineries, and steel mills, among others. The NESHAPs are standards set by the EPA under the authority of the Clean Air Act. They are designed to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants which are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects.

In the UK, the Clean Air Act was introduced in 1956 following the Great Smog of London in 1952. This Act introduced a number of measures to reduce air pollution, particularly by introducing 'smoke control areas' in some towns and cities where only smokeless fuels could be burnt.

The European Union also has a number of directives aimed at controlling and reducing air pollution. These include the Air Quality Directive, the Industrial Emissions Directive, and the National Emission Ceilings Directive. These directives set limits on the levels of certain pollutants that can be present in the air, and require member states to take action to reduce their emissions if these limits are exceeded.

In conclusion, there are a number of regulations in place around the world to help control atmospheric pollutants. These regulations are designed to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of air pollution.

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