Acid Rain And Its Impact On The Environment

Running Head: ACID RAIN AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT 1

Acid Rain and its Impact on the Environment

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ACID RAIN AND ITS EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT 2

Introduction

Acid rain is formed when sulfuric and nitric air pollution interacts and combines with the

molecules of water present in the atmosphere. That is where the term acid rain is derived from

referring to the deposition process where any precipitation rids off the acids present in the

atmosphere in forms of either snow or rain to the earth surface. There is also another term

known as dry deposition referring to the form where acids in the atmosphere can be present in

the ground and stick to the man-made structures, plants and ground formations without having

any form of wet deposition(Boutron, 2012). The acid rain brings and impact to the environment,

and therefore the paper assesses impacts of the rain on the ecosystem.

How does acid rain look like?

The acidity of a substance is measured using a pH scale that runs from zero to 14. A

substance or chemical with a value on the pH value of higher than 7 is known as alkaline and

others with a pH lower than 7 downwards is acidic. For instance, the juice of a lemon fruit has a

pH value of 2.2 therefore,it is acidic. Acidity in the acid rain or snow can be measured using the

pH strips, as it is not possible to see the acidity with naked eyes. The rain with a pH value

higher than 5.6 onwards is not termed as acid rain.

(Mazzoni, 2015)

Impact of acid rain on the atmosphere

The phrase acid rain emerged in the late 1800s, however, the public awareness

campaigns and efforts on acid rain grew in 1970s where most research studies on the effects of

acid rain were published. The various studies revealed the high extent of damage caused to the

lakes, environment, and humans leading to destruction of fish and other marine life. Research

revealed that acidic water from the rain tampered with oxygen, nutrients, and salt intake ability

ACID RAIN AND ITS EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT 3

of the fish from the water. This lead to fish having mucus along their grills, having deformities in

their bones, and laying brittle eggs.

The other problem in aquatic life occurred with the death of algae due to the high content

of nitrogen leading to algae bloom. Similar to the fish, algae are also living organism and require

oxygen, but when the content of nitrogen rises, the oxygenation drops instantly starving the

aquatic life. Many types of fish such as crayfish and clams are affected by the algae bloom and

from metals that are released from the soil when the rain falls. Due to the impact on the food

chain, fish die off as other insects and birds(Ramlogan, 2014).

(Mazzoni, 2015)

Impact on soil degradation

Acid rain also affects the soil degradation. This occurs when the soil biology and

chemistry is distorted. The biological activity, soil microbes, and soil chemical proportions such

as soil pH are highly altered due to the impact of acid rain. For biological activities to thrive, the

soil pH needs to remain at an optimum level. Therefore, the acid rain seeps in the soil, and

alters the optimum required pH level thereby reversing the biological and chemical activities.

The sensitive microorganisms in the soil cannot adapt to the pH changes and are killed while

the enzymes for soil microbes are denatured. High acidity leads to the leach away of the

important nutrients and minerals such as magnesium, and calcium. This makes the soil lose its

composition and quality thereby incapacitating it ability to support plant life or the soil

microorganisms.

ACID RAIN AND ITS EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT 4

Impact on vegetation cover and trees

Acid rain also brings an impact to the vegetation and trees cover. Acid rain enters into

the soil and dissolves the important nutrients that are required by the trees. Acid rain discharges

lot of aluminum into the soil and around the trees thereby rendering them inept of absorbing up

water. The vegetation cover and trees become highly vulnerable to attack by diseases and

pests, besides leading to stunted growth and in some cases, death of the trees and vegetative

cover. In Germany, for instance, there is an area known as black forest that acquired that name

due to the effect of acid rain on the trees, where it made the trees, vegetative cover shed all

their leaves, and now it is only the branches and black stems that remain standing.

Acid rain implications on human life

Acid rain also leads to health implications though it may not be direct. However, the dry

deposition in the air leads to negative impacts in human health by causing respiratory difficulties

and problems in breathing when inhaled. People who already have respiratory problems such

as asthma and children are adversely affected by this problem. Irritations in the throat, nose and

eyes, headaches are some of the mild implications, with the intensified levels of exposure

leading to cancer, bronchitis and lung and heart problems(Evans,2016).

Impact on water surfaces

The other effect is acidification of water surface. This is the immediate effect of acid rain

where it acidifies water in the surfaces such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and brooks. The water

becomes acidic when the acid rain precipitates over the various water surfaces. Due to the

high acidity of the water, human and aquatic life is highly affected. In areas of Europe, China

and North America, lakes, streams and rivers have become so acidic to the level where they

can no longer support any form of life leading to zoning of areas in what is known as “dead

zones”

Can acid rain be prevented?

The severity of the acid rain is related to the human activity. While acid rain occurs

naturally, its levels in natural occurrence is minimal compared to how the human activity of

burning fossils adds contaminants into the atmosphere. Sustainable generation of power and

having tighter controls on emissions can have greater impact in reduction of acid rain. In 1985,

the Clean Coal Technology Program was founded to regulate and intervene on making the

burning of coal “cleaner.” The US government had pumped massive resources in conjunction

ACID RAIN AND ITS EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT 5

with other partners in helping achieve this goal. The suggested ways include crushing the coal

and washing it before it is used, as this removes sulfur thereby making it cleaner.

Conclusion

Acid rain brings various negative impact into the ecosystem and atmosphere. From

destruction of aquatic life, human life, trees and corrosion, the acidic rain leaves a wave of

destruction in whichever surface or substance it meets it. The most devastating part is that

human activity is the leading cause of the acid rain and when it pounds, the same humans are

the most hit by its implications.

ACID RAIN AND ITS EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT 6

References

Boutron, C. F. (2012). From the impacts of human activities on our climate and environment to

the mysteries of Titan: European Research Course on Atmospheres, Grenoble, France.

Les Ulis, France, EDP Sciences.

http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/51389581.html.

Evans, K. M. (2016). The environment: a revolution in attitudes. Detroit, Mich, Gale.

http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/eBooks?ste=22&docNum=CX3489799999&q=nort8

7644.

Mazzoni, E. 2015. What is Acid Rain and How Does It Affect the Environment?, Online.

Available at: http://www.filtersfast.com/blog/index.php/2015/11/what-is-acid-rain-affect-

the-environment/

Ramlogan, R. (2014). The developing world and the environment: making the case for effective

protection of global environment. Lanham, Md, University Press of America.

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