Long famed for it’s struggles with the extraction industry, Appalachia is well known for water pollution and general environmental degradation brought about as a result of mining. However, recently, the region has come into the spotlight again for a different problem – air quality. Cities are especially known for air pollution, and Appalachia has few – so where does the pollution come from? Prevailing winds that directly hit the mountain range bring pollution from the surrounding areas, causing problems in flora, fauna, and degrading human quality of life. Due to the region’s longstanding economic battles and the shift to ecotourism, this could have potentially devastating effects, as it clouds scenic views. For residents, studies have also shown it’s ties to lung and cardiovascular diseases.
Sources:
– http://web.ornl.gov/info/reporter/no16/mountain.htm
– http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22963349
– http://www.eenews.net/stories/77163
– http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/air-quality.htm
– http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/blog/Image/georgia-appalachians.jpg