Acid deposition human health effects

Acid deposition and the associated particulate nitrates and sulfates are implicated in the deterioration of certain sensitive ecosystems, decreased visibility, negative human health effects, and increased degradation of certain stone building materials and cultural resources, especially those made of limestone and marble. Fine particulate nitrate and sulfate particles... 

Receptors. The receptor can be a person, animal, plant, material, or ecosystem. The criteria and hazardous air pollutants were so designated because, at sufficient concentrations, they can cause adverse health effects to human receptors. Some of the criteria pollutants also cause damage to plant receptors. An Air QuaUty Criteria Document (12) exists for each criteria pollutant and these documents summarize the most current Hterature concerning the effects of criteria pollutants on human health, animals, vegetation, and materials. The receptors which have generated much concern regarding acid deposition are certain aquatic and forest ecosystems, and there is also some concern that acid deposition adversely affects some materials. 

To establish the effects on human health of the fallout of the chemical species formed in the atmosphere, we have to distinguish between acid depositions and substances like ozone, PAN or other peroxides. In this case we have to follow a different approach, that is, we must establish, as proposed by WHO, the limits for some characteristic contaminants. 

Once critical load estimates are available it may be of interest to produce critical load maps. It is possible that such maps will be particularly useful in comparison with rates of acid deposition, in order to see the balance between the two and also where most effort is required to limit and control depositions so that ecosystems (and eventually buildings and structures, and human health) can be protected. In fact, as already indicated, such activities may form the basis of linking fuel use and other acid emitting processes, S and N emissions, atmospheric transport and deposition to cost-effective abatement procedures, in a cost-optimized way, to produce coordinated abatement strategies. 

The state of knowledge in the early 1990s of the effects of fat on health lacks clarity and general agreement. There is great support for the thesis that fully saturated fats are associated with problems of atherosclerosis and arterial fatty deposit, but there is evidence that stearates, which are saturates, are only poorly utilized in human digestion. Another body of work has estabUshed a connection between unsaturated fatty acids and a better state of arterial health and lowered fat body attachment to the arterial wall (23) contrary evidence exists that highly unsaturated fats polymerize more readily and thus contribute to arterial plaque formation. 

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