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- Reviewing progress
- List of indicators
- Indicator 28
Natural resource protection and enhancing the environment
28. Ecological impacts of air pollution*
Area of sensitive UK habitats exceeding critical loads for acidification and eutrophication, 1996 to 2005
| Area affected by acidity since: | 1990 |
 |
2003 |
 |
| Area affected by nitrogen since: | 1990 |
|
2003 |
 |
- Critical loads are thresholds above which the deposition
of pollutants causing acidification and eutrophication
(e.g. excessive freshwater algae growth due to nitrogen)
causes significant harm to the environment. The pollutants come mainly from burning fossil fuels and waste from farm animals. Around a third of UK land area is sensitive to acid deposition, and a third to eutrophication (with some sensitive to both). - In 1996, the percentage of sensitive habitat area where
acid deposited exceeded critical loads was 73 per cent.
Between 2000 and 2003 this declined from 60 to 56 per
cent, but increased in 2005 to 58 per cent. The percentage of sensitive habitat area subject to critical loads of nitrogen pollution increased between 2003 and 2005 from 59 to 61 per cent, but was down from 65 per cent in 1996.
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Updated: 30 July 2009