Acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone continue to destroy our environment and to harm our health. For instance, acidification affects fish populations and forest soils in Europe and North America and causes corrosion of buildings and monuments. In sensitive areas, high nitrogen deposition results in eutrophication .
Some plant species grow excessively and others disappear.
Ground-level ozone damages lung function, particularly in children and asthmatics. Ozone also causes leaf injury in plants, including crops and trees, and causes mainly organic materials like paint or rubber to disintegrate. Finally, cutting the pollutants targeted by the Protocol will also significantly lower concentrations of particulate matter , which causes severe respiratory problems. The Protocol sets reduction targets for all four pollutants. Countries whose emissions have the most severe health or environmental impact and whose emissions are the cheapest to reduce will have to make the biggest cuts.