acid rain
acid precipitation caused by emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2),
nitrogen oxides (NOx), and ammonia (NH3), of which sulphur emissions
are the primary source
acidification of lakes and
streams
most evident in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Scotland; seen as clearer
water and declining fish populations, due to the precipitation of humic
substances, and failure of fish to reproduce in acidic water
acidification of soil
depends on the size of the acid depositions, and the buffering capacity
(ability to resist pH changes) of soil and water
caesium-137 (137Cs)
one of the most dangerous radio nuclides emitted from nuclear fission;
it has a half-life of about 30 years; the most relevant nuclide of long term
concern in the fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl accident; it is absorbed by
lichens and fungi
Chernobyl accident
the 26 April 1986 nuclear reactor melt down in the Chernobyl nuclear
power plant in the Ukrainian that caused a massive amount of radioactive fallout
that spread into Western Europe, and the rest of the world
Convention on
Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
International agreement from 1979 to reduce and control air pollution in
Europe
critical loads
an exposure below which significant harmful effects on sensitive
elements of the environment do not occur according to current knowledge, the
limits should be set so as to protect even the most sensitive organisms and
ecosystems; critical loads have been worked out for acid deposition
(acidification) and nitrogen addition (eutrophication)
dry deposition
pollutants coming down in the form of gases and particles, falling
directly on vegetation, buildings, or other surfaces
eutrophying air pollution
air pollution mainly caused by nitrogen oxides and ammonia
film detectors
radiation detectors that use photographic film with a sensitive
emulsion, that covers the surface of the device, and is darkened by ionising
radiation
forest decline
damage seen as discolouring and dead areas on leaves and needles, and
defoliation (loss of leaves); older trees are more hard hit than the younger
ones; trees in mountain regions have as a rule suffered more damage than those
in low-lying parts, coniferous and deciduous species are about equally affected
gas ionisation detectors
radiation detectors that use such gases as argon or methane, or mixtures
of argon with methane or neon, in closed tubes as absorbers of electrons;
ionising radiation may change a gas molecule into an ion
Geiger-Müller counter
detector consisting of a gas tube, a hollow cathode and a wire anode in
its centre, in which ionizing particles cause an electric pulse recorded that is
recorded or produces a proportional noise through connection with a loudspeaker;
Geiger-Müller tubes are used as hand held devices for routine checking of
contamination
nuclear fusion
fusing of hydrogen nuclei to form heavier nuclei emitting at the same
time a large amount of energy; not a harnessable form of energy at present
nuclear power
a widely used energy source in the Baltic Sea region, introduced in the
1970s, that primarily depends on fission of uranium to produce nuclear energy
photochemical oxidants
air pollutants formed under the influence of sunlight; ozone usually
accounts for more than 90% of the photochemical oxidants
pollutant fallout
pollutants reaching the ground either in their original or a transformed
state, wet or dry deposition
radioactive half-life
time for half an amount of a radioactive substance to disintegrate
radioactivity
radiation that originates in the nucleus of an atom
radioiodines 131I
radioisotope with a half-life of eight days that accumulates in the
thyroid glands and can cause thyroid and blood cancer
radionuclides
a nuclide that is radioactive
radon
a gaseous element that decays into the "radon daughters,"
which release alpha and beta particles and are highly dangerous to life forms,
especially when inhaled
scintillation counters
detector in which ionizing radiation cause scintillations, light pulses,
produced when the radiation interacts with fluors measured by recording of light
pulses in a solid crystal of fluorescent material
wet depositions
pollutants coming down in rain, snow, or other forms e.g. fog
volatile organic compounds, VOC
hydrocarbons of which the alkenes, aldehyds, and aromatics are most
effective in contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone.