Air pollutants damage the natural environment through such impacts as acid rain, nitrogen oxide deposition in estuaries, and deposition of toxic materials. ... Breathing is essential, and so air quality is a fundamental aspect of sustainability.

 

Along with harming human health, air pollution can cause a variety of environmental effects: Acid rain is precipitation containing harmful amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. These acids are formed primarily by nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned.