Introduction to Acid Rain
Acid rain includes unusually high quantities of sulfuric and nitric
acids in the precipitation. Because of how it damages ecosystems, people
and buildings, it has become a global issue. Acid rain usually means
rain, snow, fog or other forms of water with a pH below what is found in
ordinary rainwater which is between 5.0 and 5.5. Should the pH fall
below 5, the substance is acidic which has the possibility of damaging
both the environment and people.
- Scottish chemist Robert Angus Smith discovered the issue of acid rain in the 1840s, finding that urban rain was much more acidic than fresh rain. Acid rain did not become known as a serious environmental issue until the late 20th century, when the increase in using fossil fuels led to broad emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ)
- . After reacting with water vapor and
other chemicals found in the atmosphere, these gases become very
acidic and come back to Earth in the form of acid rain.
Human actions, especially burning coal, oil and natural gas in factories, power plants and vehicles, are responsible for 90% of the pollutants that lead to acid rain. These reactions send a lot of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides out into the air. After releasing, these gases undergo interesting changes caused by sunlight and moisture which turn them into sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Clouds bring these acids down when they fall as rain or snow. Acid rain happens naturally because of volcanic eruptions and rotting plants, but humans have made it much more common and severe.
Acid rain is not just something you can find in the air or in plants; it greatly affects nature. Large numbers of aquatic ecosystems are under grave danger. Acid rain can cause the pH of water in lakes, rivers and streams to drop which increases acidity in the water. As a result of acidification, fish, amphibians and plankton are affected which causes problems in the food chain and for biodiversity. Often, when water is acidified, it hurts many sensitive creatures which can negatively affect the environment for a long stretch of time.
The environment for living organisms in forests and soils can be changed by acid rain. As acidic precipitation comes down on forests, it removes important nutrients such as calcium and magnesium, from the soil, making the land less fertile. Saltwater also pulls aluminum from minerals in the soil and this can be harmful to many plant and tree roots. Therefore, trees grow weaker, become more vulnerable to illness, pests and extreme weather and their rate of growth falls. The result is that forests are degraded and habitats disappear. Acid rain also harms both leaves and bark which only adds to the stress of plants.
Acid rain also influences areas where people live and work. Chemicals from acid rain cause limestone, marble and concrete to break down quickly. It leads to costs for fixing damage and also harms important sites from different cultures worldwide.
Acid rain affects human health because of the pollutants that produce it. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are kinds of air pollution that worsen breathing problems such as asthma, bronchitis and common lung diseases. Acid rain does not hurt people directly, but it shows that the air is polluted which can lead to health issues. Acid rain can also cause contamination in water used for drinking and farmland which may result in unsafe foods.
Because of how much acid rain impacts nature, governments and worldwide organizations are now taking steps to decrease sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. For example, the United States Clean Air Act and the amendments in 1990 limit the emissions that can be produced by power plants and cars. Related agreements are in use in both Europe and other industrialized areas. The use of technologies such as flue-gas desulfurization (scrubbers) and catalytic converters has contributed to cutting down pollutant emissions.
Acid rain is still a concern in a lot of areas, mainly where there is not enough control over emissions as businesses expand rapidly. Further monitoring, studies and teamwork across countries are needed to tackle its threats and coneemctional emphasis is on food security, ecological conservation and improved management of infrastructure.
All in all, acid rain is a serious environmental concern caused mainly by pollutants from human industry that end up in precipitation. Pollutants in the atmosphere affect living creatures in water, forests, soil, endanger human health and damage infrastructure which identifies how they contribute to environmental problems. Problems with acid rain can only be handled with continuous efforts in regulating emissions, forming government policies and collaborating with other nations to keep future generations safe.