1. Pollution in Europe

2. Air Pollution in the United Kingdom
In the past, air pollution was caused by emissions from factories or form homes burning coal for heat.
Smog (pollution mixed with fog)
Today, the UK’s pollution is from the carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide from vehicles.

4. Air Pollution in the United Kingdom
Effects:
1952: 4,000 people died from the Great London Smog
People get sick or die
Harms animals

5. Air Pollution in the United Kingdom
Solution:
Stop digging for and using coal as a fuel source
Use cleaner fuels

6. Acid Rain in Germany Problem:
Acid Rain: rain polluted by gases into the air by the burning of fossil fuels, like coal or oil.
Germany burns coal to make electricity.

9. Acid Rain in Germany Effects:
More than half of Germany’s trees have been damaged or killed by acid rain.
Acid rain pollutes rivers and lakes, killing fish, plants, and small organisms.
Acid rain also eats away at brick and stone buildings.

10. Acid Rain in Germany Solution:
Germany has put strict laws in place to help reduce pollution.
Factories are forced to reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide they emit or pay a fine.
Cars are required to have a converter fitted into their exhaust and the government is changing over to oil and natural gas.

12. Nuclear Disaster & the Ukraine
Problem:
April 1986: nuclear reactor exploded at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine.
Toxic radioactive material exploded into the air and traveled through to surrounding areas. This contaminated 100,000 acres including animals, crops, water and forest.

15. Nuclear Disaster & the Ukraine
Effects:
The area around Chernobyl power plant is one of the most polluted places on Earth.
Experts are unsure of how many illnesses and cancers have been caused by the explosion. 4,000 children have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

16. Nuclear Disaster & the Ukraine
Effects:
135,000 people were evacuated
30 people died in the blast
Thousands more who cleaned up the site died later from radiation poisoning.

18. Nuclear Disaster & the Ukraine
Solution:
Government has issued an exclusion zone
Very few people enter the city
200 people still remain in the city

20. European Environmental Policies
Governments are also researching alternative fuel sources for cars which would lessen air pollution and acid rain.
Rather than being made of oil, these fuels come from plant soil.

21. European Union
Most countries in Europe are members of a group called the European Union.
Since its formation in 1993, the EU has passed policies designed to fight acid rain, improve air quality, restrict toxic waste, and reduce pollution.