European concern about acid rain is growing

Journal Article · Mon Jan 28 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Chem. Eng. News; (United States)

OSTI ID:5837508

O'Sullivan, D A

The growing concern about acid rain in Europe with particular reference to West Germany, the UK and Scandinavia is discussed. Damage has occurred not only to trees but also to many historic buildings throughout Europe. The mechanism of acid deposition is outlined; monitoring systems have established correlations between transport of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the UK and central Europe and increased acidity in lakes and rivers in Scandinavia. In November 1979 thirty four countries and the European Economic Community signed a convention on longrange transboundary air pollution; in 1983 Finland, Norway, and Sweden proposed that member countries of the so-called 30% Club should cut annual sulfur emissions 30% from their 1980 base emission levels, by 1993 at the latest. The UK and the US are conspicuous by their absence from the 30% Club. In the UK in particular it is argued that firm proof is lacking that sulfur dioxide is the prime factor in forest decline; nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and ozone may be more critical factors.

• OSTI ID: 5837508
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. News; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. News; (United States) Vol. 63:4; ISSN CENEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
AGREEMENTS
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BUILDINGS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMMON MARKET
CORRELATIONS
DEPOSITION
EMISSION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EUROPE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
HYDROCARBONS
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
LAKES
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RAIN
RIVERS
SCANDINAVIA
STREAMS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSFRONTIER POLLUTION
TREES
UNITED KINGDOM
USA
WESTERN EUROPE