Acid rain damages the foliage of forests, crops, and other plants, and eventually can kill the plants. Acidification also alters the chemistry of soil, releasing harmful metals into rainwater runoff and groundwater. Sulfur dioxide also accelerates the decay of stone and paint, damaging many buildings and monuments. Mercury can circulate in the air for up to one year and can be transported thousands of miles from its source. Mercury accumulates in the fatty tissue of fish and is constantly being recycled in the environment as it moves up the food chain.
Mercury causes permanent damage to the liver and central nervous system and can cause birth defects.
Nitrogen oxide deposition causes algae blooms in lakes and streams. This depletes the water of oxygen, killing fish and other living organisms. Nitrogen dioxide has also been shown to cause pulmonary disease in animals. Soot stains and damages stone and other materials, damaging many of our buildings and monuments. Nuclear reactors generate long-lasting, highly radioactive wastes that need to be isolated and stored.