particularly disastrous (Figure 7.31). Extensive research has been
conducted in Italy, France and Germany to protect from air pollution
exposure the sculptures placed in open air.
Figure 7.30. Forest
destruction due to acid
precipitation exposure,
USA, state of Maine
The air pollution effects
on inorganic materials
have long been obser‑
ved. The description of
exposure to the London’s
atmosphere dates more
than 300 years back:
«Contaminated air coats
literally everything with a
thick layer of soot. Causes
rusting of crockery and
corrodes even steel
beams and the most
durable stone.»
Figure 7.31. Weathering
of a lion figure (Athens,
Greece) due to acid rain
exposure
154 ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF UZBEKISTAN