The permanent residents of parks, plants and animals, are showing signs of stress directly resulting from air pollution and acid precipitation. Air pollution can accelerate aging and decay of historic building materials. These pollution problems are not limited to parks near urban centers. Parks in remote areas are showing effects due to air pollution and acid precipitation. Just as pollution finds its way into the national parks, it crosses international boundaries sometimes straining relations.
Pollution also enters our personal lives, affecting our individual health and well being.
The Air Anyone who has played the game of holding their breath knows how important air is to our well being. Because the air we breathe comes to us through the earth's atmosphere, it naturally contains moisture and solid particulates. These enter the atmosphere as a result of natural processes such as evaporation from lakes and streams, volcanic eruptions, lightning strikes, forest fires, dust storms, sea spray and release of pollen. Man-made pollutants are of great concern to many people and organizations, including the National Park Service. The NPS is concerned about the following air pollutants which are linked to effects on park resources.