Environmental Issues in Europe SS6G8: The student will discuss/explain environmental issues in Europe

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Areas of focus Air pollution in the United Kingdom Acid Rain in Germany

Air Pollution in the United Kingdom London (capital of UK is famous for air pollution) The word smog was first used to describe the air in London. SMOG-Air pollution caused by sunlight acting on the gases from automobiles and factory exhausts. Hangs over cities in the UK

Cause? Water in the air mixes with smoke particles from a coal fire UK’s major natural resources: Oil, natural gas, and coal Manufacturing uses these resources Coal is cheap and available and was used during the Industrial Revolution Coal still continues to fuel the UK’s power plants and burns in fireplaces/stoves

The Great Smog of 1952 Smog was so dense that, for five days, the people in London could not see what was in front of them. Effects? -Transportation slowed -Crime increased -Thousands of people died from the pollution -People began to worry about the quality of air they were breathing in.

Sources of air pollution? Smoke and sulfur dioxide from burning fossil fuels Exhaust from gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles

Sources of air pollution

Effects? Asthma and pneumonia are linked to vehicle emissions. Burns lungs, nose, and eyes and endangers human life. Keeps children and senior citizens indoors Blackens buildings and threatens wildlife

Effects

Solutions? Banning coal fires? Smokeless zones for smokeless fuels? Cleaner coals? Increased use of electricity? Use of gas Limits on industry Laws to build vehicles that produce less harmful exhaust Checks of air quality Drive less and use cleaner forms of energy

Acid Rain in Germany Precipitation(hail, rain, sleet, snow) that has become acidic

Tall smokestacks in urban areas have allowed winds to spread more pollutants further away and increased the spread of acid rain into rural areas. ACID RAIN

Causes Pollution in the air Water vapor in the air reacts with certain chemical compounds Ex: Sulfur Dioxide reacts to form sulfuric acid Comes from the burning of fossil fuels Coal, gasoline, and oil Most automobiles, factories, and power plants burn these fuels for energy.

Effects Harms thousands of lakes, rivers, and streams worldwide Kills fish and other wildlife Damages buildings, bridges, and statues. High levels can harm forests and soil

Reducing acid rain Devices that remove sulfur and nitrogen compounds from fuels or industrial emissions. Compounds are removed before they reach the atmosphere Adding lime (from limestone, not the fruit ) to lakes and rivers and their drainage areas neutralizes acidity temporarily

Chernobyl Disaster During the 1960’ss and 1970’s, many countries including the Soviet Union and the United States, spent billions of dollars developing nuclear power plants as a solution for the increased demands on energy. However, the danger of radiation exposure made the use of the power plants very controversial. The controversy grew even more in April, 1986.

Chernobyl Disaster When: April 25, 1986 Where: Chernobyl, Ukraine (A city located about 60 miles of Kiev) What: Tons of radioactive material were released into the air, soil and water, poisoning the environment. How: One of the nuclear reactors at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station exploded. The nuclear plant was about 10 years old and generated enough power to serve over a half-million homes.

Chernobyl Disaster Effects Radioactive material was carried across Northern Europe by wind, contaminating soil and water. The radiation killed animals, plants, and people within a 30-mile radius of the power station were forced to evacuate. In the first few months after the disaster, 28 emergency workers died, but many more have been affected with increase rates of cancer, birth defects and cardiovascular disease.