Industry & Power Generation
The two major air pollutants produced by industry and power stations are sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Sulphur dioxide is the main pollutant emitted from power stations. In Britain, 90% of sulphur dioxide pollution comes from power stations and industry. Once in the air, sulphur dioxide mixes with moisture to form sulphuric acid, which will later fall as acid rain.
Nitrogen oxides are pollutants which are mainly associated with car exhausts, although some comes from industry. Again, they mix with moisture in the atmosphere to form nitric acid, which then falls as acid rain.
Today, industries that emit air pollution must have chimneys or stacks which release the waste gases into the atmosphere at higher levels, thereby reducing the risk of ground level pollution. Power stations are now also required to reduce the amount of sulphur dioxide they give off by using specialised clean technology.
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