Most of China’s energy is produced by burning coal, which spews sulfur and nitrogen compounds into the air, where they combine with moisture and become acidic.
These particles eventually fall back to Earth, and some are often carried westward for hundreds of miles by wind and rainstorms.
Japan, located just a few hundred miles west of China, has suffered because of acid rain that had its origins in China.
Acid rain can damage plant life, in Japan’s case, pine and fir trees in particular, and can also cause health problems in humans.
China and Japan are trying to work together to solve this problem.
Other countries affected by Chinese air pollution are North Korea, South Korea, and Vietnam.
