downtoearth-subscribe

Rain ruin

Rain ruin ACID rain is playing havoc with buildings and wildlife in half of Great Britain. Scottish heather, and salmon and trout stocks in Wales, have suffered damage due to acid rain, caused mainly by sulphur dioxide emissions from coal burned in power stations. According to estimates prepared for the British department of environment, the western and northern parts of UK are particularly affected because their soils contain little alkali to counter the acid.

However, with the British government recently agreeing to abide by a United Nations protocol to cut sulphur dioxide emissions to 50 per cent of 1980 levels by the year 2000, and the power industry switching from coal to gas, the affected area could be reduced by 90 per cent.

Related Content