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Air pollution has a long history but has changed so that it
often no longer is a local concern but a regional problem.
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The major air-born pollutants include acidic oxides, eutrophying
gases, volatile organic compounds, ground level ozone, fine particles,
carbon monoxid and radioactive fall out.
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Fossil fuels are the source of pollutants
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Pollutants reach the ground either in their original or in a
transformed state, and the deposition can be either dry or wet.
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Acidification of lakes is a problem in southern Norway and
western Sweden. It is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen
oxides (NOx) and ammonia (NH3).
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The consequences of acidification of soils is that plant
nutrients are leached out, poisonous metals are freed and that phosphates
are bound.
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Acidification of lakes and streams leads to declining
biodiversity and eventually the water body becomes devoid of higher life.
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Acid rain and air pollution are two of several factor that
may lead to forest decline.
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Human health could be at danger when acid rain free
poisonous metals that eventually may find ways into drinking water or
food
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Acid rain increases corrosion to building, vehicles, metal
structures, cables and so forth.
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Man-made radioactivity in the atmosphere was first spread
from atmospheric nuclear bomb tests.
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The main environmental concern of nuclear power are the risk
of radioactive contamination and fallout after an accident at a power
station, pollution from uranium mining, leakage from storage of used nuclear
fuel, accidents during the transport of nuclear fuel.
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Natural radiation comes from outer space, rocks and soil,
food and water, and parts of our body.
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Man-made radiation comes from medical treatment, research
reactors, nuclear power plants, conventional uranium ammunition, and nuclear
weapons testing.
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Ionizing radiation have harmful effects on people also at
low levels.
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The Chernobyl accident dispersed radioactive nuclides
throughout much of the Baltic Sea region.
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It is relatively easy to combat air pollution and the
emissions of sulphur is now two-thirds less than they were in 1980.
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The term critical load refers to the amount of a
pollutant that the environment can tolerate.
