Another
effect of air pollution is acid rain. The phenomenon occurs when sulphur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides from the burning of fossil fuels such as, petrol, diesel, and coal combine
with water vapour in the atmosphere and fall as rain, snow or fog. These gases can also be
emitted from natural sources like volcanoes. Acid rain causes extensive damage to water,
forest, soil resources and even human health. Many lakes and streams have been
contaminated and this has led to the disappearance of some species of fish in Europe, USA
and Canada as also extensive damage to forests and other forms of life. It is said that it
can corrode buildings and be hazardous to human health. Because the contaminants are
carried long distances, the sources of acid rain are difficult to pinpoint and hence
difficult to control. For example, the acid rain that may have damaged some forest in
Canada could have originated in the industrial areas of USA. In fact, this has created
disagreements between Canada and the United States and among European countries over the
causes of and solutions to the problem of acid rain. The international scope of the
problem has led to the signing of international agreements on the limitation of sulphur
and nitrogen oxide emissions.
Another
effect of air pollution is acid rain. The phenomenon occurs when sulphur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides from the burning of fossil fuels such as, petrol, diesel, and coal combine
with water vapour in the atmosphere and fall as rain, snow or fog. These gases can also be
emitted from natural sources like volcanoes. Acid rain causes extensive damage to water,
forest, soil resources and even human health. Many lakes and streams have been
contaminated and this has led to the disappearance of some species of fish in Europe, USA
and Canada as also extensive damage to forests and other forms of life. It is said that it
can corrode buildings and be hazardous to human health. Because the contaminants are
carried long distances, the sources of acid rain are difficult to pinpoint and hence
difficult to control. For example, the acid rain that may have damaged some forest in
Canada could have originated in the industrial areas of USA. In fact, this has created
disagreements between Canada and the United States and among European countries over the
causes of and solutions to the problem of acid rain. The international scope of the
problem has led to the signing of international agreements on the limitation of sulphur
and nitrogen oxide emissions.