Air pollution also harms the environment, and it is
estimated that 71 % of the EU Natura 2000 ( 39) area
was exposed to eutrophication in 2010 (EC, 2013a).
Ground-level O
3 can damage crops and other
vegetation, impairing their growth. The atmospheric
deposition of sulphur and nitrogen compounds
has acidifying effects on soils and freshwaters.
Acidification may lead to an increased mobilisation
of toxic metals increasing the risk of uptake in the
food chain. Table 5.1 summarises the main effects of
air pollutants on the environment.
The deposition of nitrogen compounds can also
lead to eutrophication, an oversupply of nutrients
that may lead to changes in species diversity and
invasions of new species. In addition, toxic metals
and POPs may have severe impacts on ecosystems.
This is mainly due to their environmental toxicity,
but in some cases it is also due to their tendency to
bioaccumulate, a process whereby the toxin cannot
be digested and excreted by animals, and therefore
slowly accumulates in the animal's system, causing
chronic health problems.