Air Pollution Air tends to be more polluted in urban

areas than rural areas Example: United Kingdom Why? Factories, power plants, car exhaust Effects: Causes acid rain and contributes

to global warming, damage to vegetation and harm to human beingsAsthma and respiratory problemsHeart diseaseNervous system/immunity disordersCancer

Acid Rain Acid rain is especially bad in Western and

Central Europe - Ex: Germany What is it? precipitation (rain, snow, or sleet),

containing large amounts of acid-forming chemicals

Why? pollutants from coal smoke from factories, chemical manufacturing, and smelting, that have been released into the atmosphere and combined with water vapor

Effects: causes damage to vegetation and aquatic life, contamination of drinking water, and damage to physical structures such as buildings and monuments

Chernobyl Chernobyl video clip – fill in what

happened in notes Consequences: land evacuation, land

contamination, economic impact on farmers, and health issuesCancerBirth defectsDeath

Impact In all three of these issues, the pollution

or radiation is (or was) carried through air currents to neighboring countries

European Union Environment is a central issue Applicant countries must demonstrate

that they have taken significant measures toward improving environment in four categories

1. Air2. Water3. Energy4. Waste management