Abstract
Abstract A host of deleterious factors can impact the aging and integrity of historical monuments and statues. These may include natural causes such as water, wind, and temperature variation as well as the even more detrimental human causes of industrial pollution, urban warming, and fossil fuel emissions from vehicles all of which contribute to the development of acid precipitation. In addition, where the use of fossil fuels is wide-spread the occurrence of acid precipitation tends to be more prevalent and as a result serious damage can occur to the natural environment. Acid precipitation causes irreparable damage to vegetation, wildlife, and fish populations in lakes, streams, and rivers. Also, damage caused by acid precipitation can be quite recognizable on historical monuments and statues constructed from carbonate-based stone. The stone derived from carbonate sources such as limestone, dolomite, and marble have been widely used for thousands of years in the construction of monuments and statues. Carbonate-based stone was often chosen because of its abundance, suitability for shaping, and robust quality. Many historic works of art which not only characterize a period of art but also create powerful images of the artist and artwork have survived for thousands of years. The emergence of acid precipitation though has caused irreparable damage and destruction to many of these irreplaceable works of art, monuments, and statues. In this study, the research focuses on better understanding of acid precipitation and its impact on items of cultural heritage such as historical monuments and statues. Sample cases were chosen to emphasize and evaluate deleterious impact which may have occurred to these items of cultural heritage. According to research evaluation results from this study the researcher has provided recommendations for resolving the impacts of acid precipitation on these historical monuments and statues. Keywords: fossil fuels, acid precipitation, historical artefacts, marble statues.
 Keywords: fossil fuels, acid precipitation, historical artefacts, marble statues.
Highlights
Numerous historical monuments and sculptures which have existed for thousands of years continue to face significant damage
Acid rain has become a hot button issue over the past decades and throughout the world a variety of legislation has been passed to combat its deleterious effects on the environment
Acid rain garnered increased attention following the discovery of mass fish deaths in rivers and lakes as well as the emergence of major damages to vegetation in industrial zones resulting from the degree of increasing acidity
Summary
Numerous historical monuments and sculptures which have existed for thousands of years continue to face significant damage. Over the past hundred years the damage to these monuments and sculptors has accelerated. Except for the physical and chemical destruction which occurs due to the natural weathering process the main source for the accelerated damage to these structures has been pollutants and gases produced from human-based activities. Environmental destruction as well as damage to cultural assets is a result of excessive and inappropriate use of fossil fuels due to unchecked urbanization and industrialization. Efforts to protect and repair if necessary the negative effects which have occurred to historical monuments and sculptures from human-made pollutants continue to be of importance
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