GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTL PROBLEMS-2

Acid Rain
Acid rain is relatively recent environmental problem.
Acid rain affects the chemistry of soils, forests and certain types
of buildings
The basic cause of Acid rain is air pollution.
Raised from air pollution, acid is also present in the environment
in the form of snow and vapours
The subsequent harmful phenomenon of acid rain is Acid
accumulation and Acid precipitation

Phenomenon

Polluted air (acidic in

nature)

Gets mixed with rain

Falls down on the earth

surface

Measurement of Acid Rain

Sources & Types of Environmental Acids

TypesofEnvironmentalacids:
Sources of
Environmental
Acids

Natural

Anthropogenic

Organic

Inorganic

H2SO4

HCCOH

HNO3

CH3COOH

HCl

C3H7COOH

H2CO3

C5H11COOH

H2SO3

Effects of Acid Rain on Environment

source:www.maine.gov

Consequences
Acidrainsresultinexcessacidity,

Environmental
costs

Health costs

Economic
losses

Aesthetic
losses

Consequences

Dyingforestsandlakes
In forests the ecosystem is delicately balanced
Acids deposited on the soils, acidity can leach metals from
minerals in ground (Aluminum)
Contact of acidic clouds and fog droplets with leaves may also
cause direct damage to the leaf surfaces or may inhibit
transpiration
Otherdestructiveimpacts
Devastate local environments e.g. moonscapes
Attack agricultural crops (reduction in yield, loss of quality &
surface damage)
Corrode works of art and may dissolve structure
Reduce visibility
Create human health hazards

Consequences
CorrodeworkatArt
In Italy, due to largely uncontrolled emissions from automobiles and
industrial pollution,
memorablestatuesandmonumentsaregettingaffected.
Taj Mahal inIndia
Marble&limestoneerosion:
CaCO3(solid)+H2SO4(aqueous) CaSO4(solid)+CO2(gas)+H2O
Thisdissolves,erodesanddisfigurestheartifacts
Otherdestructiveimpacts
Devastate local environments e.g. moonscapes
Attack agricultural crops (reduction in yield, loss of quality & surface
damage)
Corrode works of art and may dissolve structure
Reduce visibility
Create human health hazards

Consequences
Moonscapes

Sudbury (Ontario), Canada largest mining towns in the world

Largest smelter, constructed 380m high smokestack in order to
reduce local impacts of dense air pollution
Stack carried sulphur dioxide to drift some distance
Several hundred square miles of habitat just downwind the
smelter has been destroyed due to this
The area is barren ground, without any life on it
The lakes in this region are acidic and totally dead
This shows us a glimpse of excessive acidic pollution

Effects on Acid Rain on Tajmahal

The first picture was taken some decades

back, it shows how Tajmahal was looking
at that time and the picture in the right
was taken 4 years back.

The second picture shows the

present affected status of Tajmahal.

Effects on Acid Rain on Tajmahal

The third picture showing a

monument picture that was
affected seriously by Tajmahal.

These damages are nonreversible.

The area in which Tajmahal is located is
surrounded by many industries and factories
they emit more amount of pollutants in to the
atmosphere, they even release toxic
components, acidic components in to the near
by water bodies.
the water bodies follows the normal water
cycle. So the rain forming around that area will
be having high acidic content in it
The change of color of the monument changed
from while to light yellow
The government of India is constantly enacting
laws to prevent the factories from causing
pollution in to the atmosphere which would
directly cause a adverse change in to Tajmahal

Loss of BioBio-diversity

Threatened by sum of human activities:

Overuse (hunting of animals and cutting of trees/ products)
Loss of habitat, degradation and fragmentation mass
extinction
Invasion of nonnative species overlooked reason for
extinction of certain species
Domino effect introduction or removal of one species
Pollution
Climate change
Satisfies our daily needs in terms of food and beverages

Types of BioBio-diversity

Agricultural Biodiversity
Dry and Subhumid Lands Biodiversity
Forest Biodiversity
Inland Waters Biodiversity
Island Biodiversity
Marine and Coastal Biodiversity
Mountain Biodiversity

Bio--technology, LMOs & Bio

Bio
Bio--safety
Technological application that uses biological systems, living
organisms or derivates, to make or modify products or processes
for a specific use.
Gene from a plant or animal cell is inserted in another plant or
animal cell to give it a desired characteristic (e.g. pest or disease
resistant plants)
Genetic manipulation
Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) or Genetically Modified
Organisms (GMOs) Benefits as well as Risks
Minimize potential risk to human health and environment
policies and procedure

Global response Institutions: United Nations

Areas of contribution:
To promote respect for human rights
Protect the environment
Fight disease
Reduce poverty
Define the standards for safe and efficient air travel
Improve telecommunications
Enhance consumer protection
International campaigns against drug trafficking and terrorism
Assist refugees
Set up programmes to clear landmines
Help to expand food production
Lead the fight against AIDS.

United Na
Nations

FAO
ICAFAO
ICAO
ILO
IPCC
ITU
UNCTAD
UNDCP
UNDP
UNEP
UNESCO
UNFIP
UNFPA
UNHCR

UNHABITAT
UNICEF
UNRWA
UPU
WFP
WHO
WMO
ILO
IPCC
ITU
UNCTAD
UNDCP
UNDP

UNEP
UNESCO
UNFIP
UNFPA
UNHCR
UNHRC
UNHABITAT
UNICEF
UNRWA
UPU
WFP
WHO
WMO

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Voice of environment within United Nations Systems
Founded UN Conference on the Human Environment, 1972
and its headquarter is in Kenya
In order to promote wise use of Earths natural resources, UNEP
acts as an
Advocate,
Educator,
Catalyst, and
Facilitator

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Areas of work:
Assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions
and trends
Developing international agreements and national environmental
instruments
Strengthening institutions for the wise management of the
environment
Integrating economic development and environmental protection
Facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology for sustainable
development
Encouraging new partnerships and mindsets within civil society and
the private sector

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Several Environmental Conventions Secretariat are hosted by UNEP:
Ozone Secretariat
The Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES)
The Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Migratory Species
The Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous
and Other Wastes
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent*

* cohosted with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

THANK YOU