Acid Rain; Causes, Effects, Remedies

Andrea Kostic 

Mr. Youell
Science 9E 

19.03.2015.  

            According to epa.gov, acid rain is a type of rainfall, with higher levels of sulfuric and nitric acid. It is so acidic that it certainly allows itself to harm our environment in various ways. The chemicals we release in the atmosphere affect the world we’re living in, majority being aquatic bodies, as well as forests, architecture and art.

The main cause of acid rains is the burning of the fossil fuels and vehicle exhausts, such as coal and fuel, as well as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), which are known as by-products of combusted fossil fuels.  They are being released into the atmosphere, as they are becoming sulfuric and nitric acid. Turning into the acid rain, they end up falling on the ground. Humans are capable of changing the mix of the gasses in the atmosphere by sending many harmful chemicals directly to the atmosphere. The cars and buses humans have a control of, release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which are pollutants that cause acid rain.  Human activities are considered as one of the main causes of acid rains. However though, not only the transportation nowadays is responsible for acid rains, but industrial combustion as well. As many sources suggest, 69.4% of a gas, such as sulfur dioxide, is produced by industrial combustion (figure 1). One of the examples could surely be the production of iron and steel, and utility factories. Acid rain can occur via natural resources as well. Erupting volcanoes contain certain chemicals that cause acid rain. 

                                                    (Figure 1- industrial combustion)  

            Water surfaces are the most affected by acid deposition due to acidic rain falling directly to them (as shown in figure 2). If not directly, the deposition flows into rivers, streams and lakes from the fields and roads. What acid rain does to a larger body of water is lowers the overall Ph of the body, thus risking the life in it. As for the lake, if its Ph drops below 4.5, the life of all the animals and plants would be put under a larger risk. Unfortunately, scientists have provided us with information that around 50,000 lakes in United States and Canada have a Ph below average/normal (5.3), and 700/50,000 cannot provide a life for any animals nor plants. Not only larger water surfaces are affected by acid rains, but forests as well. In countries such as Germany and Poland, nearly half of the forests are being damaged, and 30% of forests are damaged in Switzerland for instance. When acid rain falls on trees, it immediately damages its bark and the trees lose their leaves. The trees will also grow at a slower pace, becoming more ‘’sensitive’’ to harsh weather conditions and insects. Rains such as these also leave an effect on the soil, where they make them lose their nutritions, killing their microorganisms. Acid rains also have an affect on our own lives. As previously mentioned, they are able to lower the Ph of the certain body of water, which harms the living life in it. We are not to forget that the fish that we are eating is constantly decreasing. In addition, it impacts art and architecture which humans created, due to its ability to damage, or even destroy certain materials.

           

(Figure 2- how acid rain affects aquatic bodies)

            In order to help control acid rains, we need to understand what they are and its solutions. Scientists and government are not necessarily the only ones who can help; we can surely help too, and eventually tell others about it. As it’s been already mentioned, energy production creates pollutants which lead to acid rain. We can solve this by conserving the energy. We should always keep in mind to turn off the lights and different kinds of electronics when we’re not using them in order to save the energy. As for the equipment we’re using, we should buy the ones which use less electricity.  Also, we can limit the use of air conditioners, and only use it when it’s fairly needed. Another solution for acid rains is using scrubbers (figure 3). Scrubbers are liquid filter for the gases resulting from combustion. As elmhurst.edu suggests, they are used for removing 80-95 percent of the sulfur dioxide. To conclude, acid rains are a worldwide struggle, which are constantly impacting our environment, and people should become being more aware of it and all the various ways they can help prevent it. 

                                                     

(Figure 3- diagram of a scrubber)