Decreasing water levels: Water levels in three-quarters of the world's largest rivers have decreased over the past 50 years, said the US-based National Center for Atmospheric Research. The scientists have linked the decline to less rainfall, more evaporation and higher water use. While the water levels in the Ganga has decreased, the Brahmaputra and the Yangtze in China have shown stable or increasing flows.
Living on dirty air: Despite efforts by the US to clean up the atmosphere, the air in many of its cities has become more polluted, said the American Lung Association in its 'State of the Air' report. Six out of every 10 Americans--186.1 million people--live in areas where air pollution is life-threatening. Some of the biggest sources are polluting power plants, dirty diesel engines and ocean-going vessels which also contribute to global warming.
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