European Environmental Issues Day 3

Acid Rain is caused by…

Acid Rain results in…

Acid Rain In Germany rain, snow, sleet that is polluted by acids such as sulfuric acid and nitric acid caused chiefly from the burning of coal, gas, and oil by cars, factories, and power plants harms the environment over large areas: a) can damage statues, buildings, and bridges, b) can kill entire fish populations in lakes and animals c) can harm forests and soil

Acid Rain In Germany Damage to fish stocks and forests have a great economic impact to local economy and international trade. Damage to buildings results in money having to be spent to renovate. Closures of factories results in loss wages.

Acid Rain In Germany Germany has been working to solve the problem of acid rain: In southern Germany, plants are using hydroelectric power (water power) from streams and rivers, replacing many coal-burning factories. The German government has passed laws to reduce emissions from automobiles and factories. Germany is building smokestacks that cleans the smoke before it enters the air called Scrubbers. Germany the leading producer of wind and solar power technology.

Hydroelectric Power

Areas Where Acid Rain Is A Major Problem Central Europe Scandinavia Eastern North America

Air Pollution in the United Kingdom Smog is a form of air pollution First used in 1905 to describe the combination of smoke and thick fog that at times hung over London. Also, refers to a condition caused by the action of sunlight on the exhaust gases from automobiles and factories.

Causes of Smog Coal-burning homes Vehicle emissions Factories

Effects of Smog Can kill (About 4,000 Londoners died within five days as a result of a thick smog in 1952) Destroys plant life Causes building materials to deteriorate faster than usual. Respiratory disease = attacks the lungs and makes Breathing difficult

Solutions to control Smog Government monitors air quality - Air quality monitoring stations. Newer cars produce less exhaust and people drive less.

Chernobyl Disaster April 26, 1986 the worst nuclear accident in history Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union) One of the nuclear reactors at the Chernobyl plant exploded. Tons of radioactive material surrounded the plant, poisoning the land and the water. Even more radioactive material entered the air, falling on northern Europe and Scandinavia. Drinking water was unsafe for months after the accident, and fish in the rivers of the Ukraine and neighboring countries were not safe to eat for years.

Chernobyl after the disaster…

Radiation Found In the Ground After Chernobyl Disaster

Effects: Red Forest

The Cover-Up Soviet leaders concealed the accident from the public for nearly two days and refused outside help. Eventually, nearby towns were evacuated and the resettlement of 360,000 had to occur. Cleanup workers covered the reactor with a concrete shell. Most of these men died within 3 months after the accident.

Whole cities were abandoned due to radiation…

Effects of Chernobyl Disaster It is difficult to determine the effects on human life. 31 emergency workers died from acute radiation syndrome. More than 200 others were seriously injured Fallout (radioactive material) from the accident caused a number of health and environmental problems. Since the accident, doctors have noticed an increase in cases of cancer in people that were living near contaminated areas.

30 years later – still too unsafe to live there.

Nuclear Debate In the 1980s, many countries were using nuclear power. Nuclear power plants were producing cheaper energy without filling the air with pollution and without using up the Earth’s supply of fossil fuels. After Chernobyl, concerns about nuclear safety were spread around the world. A mistake in one country could have devastating results in another country.