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Title: Acid rain in Asia

Conference ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02394130· OSTI ID:5869750
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
  2. Resource Management Associates, Madison, WI (USA)

Acid rain has been an issue of widespread concern in North America and Europe for more than fifteen years. However, there is an emerging feeling that the problem in Europe and North America is nearing solution, largely as a result of existing and newly enacted legislation, decreased energy use due to conservation and efficiency improvements, and/or trends in energy policy away from fossil fuels. The situation in Asia appears much bleaker. Fossil fuels are already used in large quantities, such that local air pollution is becoming a serious problem and high deposition levels are being measured. Emission regulations in most countries (with the notable exception of Japan) are not very stringent. Energy plans in many countries (particularly PRC, India, Thailand, and South Korea) call for very large increases in coal combustion in the future. Finally, there is not presently a strong scientific or public constituency for action to mitigate the potential effects of acid deposition. These factors imply potentially serious problems in the future for long-range transport and deposition of sulfur and nitrogen species and consequent damage to ecosystems and materials. The political ramifications of transboundary environmental pollution in this region are also potentially serious. The purpose of this paper is to provide background information on the acid deposition situation in Asia, with the intention of laying the foundation for the development of a possible research program for this region. 36 refs., 8 figs., 8 tabs.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Resource Management Associates, Inc., Madison, WI (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
5869750
Report Number(s):
ANL/CP-72383; CONF-9102110-1; ON: DE91011160
Resource Relation:
Journal Volume: 16; Journal Issue: 4; Conference: Energy and environment in the Asia-Pacific region: planning for an uncertain future, Honolulu, HI (USA), 13-15 Feb 1991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English