英国空气污染的环境后果

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION IN BRITAIN

1.英国的空气污染同题已有几个世纪。这个同题的性质也发生了变化:剧烈的局部烟雾污染已大为下降,而污染物的总量以及扩散距离却增加了。 2.空气污染造成的生态损害在污染源附近减少,而在边远乡村增大。 3.在英国,空气污染引起淡水酸化、破坏动植物区系,也许还使森林的生长状况恶化了。 4.二氧化氮和氨排出量不断增加,导致影响自然植物群落的氮沉降物的急剧生成。 5.在被污染的英国乡村,农作物受到臭氧和其它气体污染物的不利影响,但是酸雨对英国农作物影响并不大。 6.空气污染可以越过边境线,因此空气污染问题要求国际合作。欧洲正在从生态标准出发考虑如何制定减少污染物排出量的战略。 7.依据最近欧洲共同体协议,英国需减少某些污染物排出量,但是这也许并不足以保护生态系统和生物体。

( 1 ) There have been air pollution problems in Britain for several centuries. The nature of such problems has changed:intense local smoke pollution has been largely reduced, whilst total emissions of pollutants and their dispersal over long distances have increased.(2) Ecological damage by air pollutants has been reduced in areas close to emission sources but has increased in remote rural areas.(3) Air pollution has caused freshwater acidification in Britain, with consequent damage to flora and fauna. It may also be implicated in tree health decline.( 4 ) Emissions of nitrogen oxides and ammonia are an increasing problem, resulting in high rates of nitrogen deposition, which is afecting natural vegetation communities.(5 ) Crops in Britain may be adversely affected by ozone and, in polluted rural areas,by other gaseous pollutants. Acid rain is unlikely to affect crop production in Britain.( 6) Air pollution crosses national boundaries and so air pollution problems demand international action. Ecological criteria are now being considered in the development of emission reduction Strategies for Europe.( 7 ) Some emissions are to be reduced in Britain, incompliance with recent European Community agreements, but this may not be sufficient for the protection of ecosystems and organisms.