Peter Montague

In the following viewpoint, Peter Montague argues that air pollution is responsible for the health problems and even deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. The particles that make up this hazardous air pollution are so small that they can easily get into the deepest part of the lungs where they can cause inflammation and other damage, he asserts. Although numerous studies have shown the harmful effects of air pollution on human health, Americans remain unprotected against the dangers of air pollution due to unreasonable demands by U.S. regulatory agencies, he contends. Montague is the director of the Environmental Research Foundation and editor of Rachel’s Hazardous Waste News.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to a study by researchers at Harvard University School of Public Health, how many Americans die each...