Air pollution
and Acid rain

A cause and the present condition
When the SOx and nitrogen oxide which were discharged from the factory which consumes a fossil fuel or the car are exposed to an ultraviolet ray in the atmosphere, a chemical reaction is started and it becomes strong acid, such as sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Then, these acid substances are carried in the distance, and it sinks as it is (dry subsidence), or they become the acid rain which melts into rain and is poured on surface of the earth.
Acid rain (pH<5.6) melts a thing. In many countries in Europe, a forest withers and many lakes where a fish becomes extinct or decreases sharply are seen. It is the influence of acid rain which is called bronze statue which a bronze statue sheds tears by being melted. In the world, the typical building, "the Statue of Liberty", "the Parthenon shrine (Athens)", "the Cologne cathedral (Germany) ", etc. have received the decomposition by acid rain.

Problem
Since pollution-related illnesses, such as Yokkaichi asthma of the 70s, occurred, the measure to air pollution was comparatively early in Japan.
However, in Japan, many acid rain is still falling. This is because the air pollution substance discharged at the factory in China rides on clouds and is going into Japan. Acid rain also poses a problem between states while being concerned with the problem of energy.

Measure
In Europe, the work which scatters lime in the lake which acidified and is neutralized is done.
It is also emphasized to development of the engine of an efficient car. (Refer to a lower column)

Column -diesel car? gasoline vehicle?
If you are asked "a car good for environment", which do you visualize? In fact, if the gasoline vehicle is better considering air pollution, and the diesel car is said to be good considering warming.
The big cause which causes air pollution is the contaminant which comes out of a diesel car. However, if it is the same carbon-dioxide emissions, the diesel car of transportation distance is longer than a gasoline vehicle.
It is efficient and the long engine of transportation distance is called for making.

Recently, the car which runs by the hydrogen using a thing called a fuel cell is developed. This uses the energy which comes out in the process which makes water from hydrogen and oxygen, and neither hydrogen nor oxygen has damage in environment.
If the problem of cost etc. is overcome, this fuel cell electric vehicle will become the first step which solves many problems.



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