toluene, acetaldehyde, xylene and ethylene dibromide, to name a few. Even benzylethylene, used by dry cleaners, is harmful to much of the population (Cowley, 1988, p 48-49).
The effects of air pollution on the environment at large and on human beings, is enormous. Since acid rain has been the most discussed geo-politically, it is best to start with that.
The acidification of precipitation (rain) in the atmosphere is the result of emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. These two gaseous compounds react in the atmosphere to form sulfuric and nitric acid which in turn fallout of the sky in the form of rain and snow. The acid rain falls anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand miles away from the source, depending on the strength of the prevailing winds. The clearest effects of acid rainfall observed to date have been on l
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