Its joint implementation programs with Poland are the most developed. Acidification Acidity of soil and surface waters is a major concern in the Netherlands. There has been considerable progress in reducing emissions of some domestic acidifying agents. Emissions of NOx, however, remained largely unchanged for the period 1980 to 1992. While acid rain is still a problem, average deposition amounts have dropped, largely due to the ammonia and SO2 reductions.
Dutch policy has strong provisions to combat acidification.
Acid deposition objectives were set for 1994, and international cooperation is provided for under agreements such as the Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. Other sources include industrial and municipal sewage and non-point sources. Nevertheless, the government predicted in 1994 that targets for both nitrogen and phosphorus would be achieved for the year 2000. Dispersion of Toxics Toxics include such materials as heavy metals, dioxins, and PCBs. The overriding goal of Dutch policy is to reduce risk to negligible levels.