EFFECTS OF POLUTION ON HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

By 10-AGIRLS

Effects of pollution on monuments

• Some damage, such as from wind or rain, is unavoidable. However, pollution contributes additional risk factors that can increase the level of destruction.

• The effects may be minor, such as a blackening of the surface of monuments due to dust. Other impacts can have permanent consequences.

Significance

• Pollution negatively impacts historical monuments and buildings around the world. The threat is in the risk of losing these irreplaceable structures forever. Many of these monuments have cultural value that is beyond price.

Acid rain

• One of the more destructive forms of pollution is acid rain  The "acid" in acid rain comes from sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, products of burning coal and other fuels and from certain industrial processes.

Effect of acid rain on monuments .

• When acid rain falls on historical monuments of limestone or marble, a chemical reaction takes place which has a corrosive effect on these structures. The reaction dissolves the material, leading to permanent damage.

Indian monument that is affected by acid rain .

• Taj mahal , one of the seven wonders of the world is now very well known to be a monument that is effected with the harmful elements of nature .Taj mahal is affected by marble cancer .

• When acid rain falls on the surface of white marble it turns yellow and is permanent , this is called marble cancer .

BEFORE AFTER

Global warming

• A Global Warming is an increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere, especially a sustained increase sufficient to cause climatic change.

• Global warming also has a bad effect on our historical monuments .

How does global warming affect monuments ?

• Global warming affects monuments as most of them are made up of natural stones and when the temperature increases ( due to global warming ) the outer most layers of these monuments also get heated up rapidly , while the inner layers of the same monuments get heated very slowly and due to the vast temperature difference unequal expansion  and  contraction  among  the  various  layersof  stone results  in  peeling  of  stone, cracking of  it  resulting  in  pore  formation   and  finally  leads  to the  damage  of  monument

Monument that is affected due to global warming in India .

• The 400-year-old Charminar - the most recognizable symbol of Hyderabad -and other ancient monuments within the 300 meter heritage zone in the area are turning black due to pollution and their plasters are peeling off due to the rise in temperature .

Other factors that also affect …

• Other factors that contribute to the rate of damage to historical monuments are:

• An increase in humidity provides the necessary environment for corrosive chemical reactions in the absence of rain.

• changes in sun radiation can temporarily raise temperatures on the surface of monuments, resulting the effects of global warming on a specific site.

Steps taken by the government of India to save Taj mahal from acid

rain .• The government and city authorities have taken

measures to protect Indias greatest sight (taj mahal) . Pollution stations around Agra monitor air quality around the clock.

• Car traffic has been banned within two kilometers of the monument. Electric and battery driven cars and buses then take tourists to the site.

• A natural gas pipeline is also in discussion. Factories and industries around Agra should be persuaded to change to cleaner forms of energy.

Steps taken by the government of other countries to save their

monuments• As the great wall of china is under a

threat due to Tornadoes, storms, winds, weathering, sun rays, erosion, desertification (where fertile land becomes desert),and also due to the climate change . The government of china have taken the following steps to save their precious monument:

Enact laws to protect the wall from further damage by men.

Provide funds to be used for wall protection and preservation.