ACID RAIN

By Mohammad Ibrahim

What is acid rain?Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of (low pH). It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure.

How is it caused?Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides dissolve very easily in water and can be carried very far by the wind.

Why is acid rain harmful?Air pollution like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can cause respiratory diseases, or can make these diseases worse. Respiratory diseases like asthma or chronic bronchitis make it hard for people to breathe. The pollution that causes acid rain can also create tiny particles. When these particles get into people’s lungs, they can cause health problems.

Effect on Aquatic Environment: Acid rain either falls directly on aquatic bodies or gets run off the forests, roads and fields to flow into streams, rivers and lakes. Over a period of time, acids get accumulated in the water and lower the overall pH of the water body. The aquatic plants and animals need a particular pH level of about 4.8 to survive. If the pH level falls below that the conditions become hostile for the survival of aquatic life. At pH levels below 5, most fish eggs cannot hatch. Lower pHs can also kill adult fish.

Effect on Architecture and Buildings: Acid rain on buildings, especially those constructed with limestone, react with the minerals and corrode them away. This leaves the building weak and susceptible to decay. Modern buildings, cars, airplanes, steel bridges and pipes are all affected by acid rain.

Acid Rain Harms ForestsAcid rain can be extremely harmful to forests. Acid rain that seeps into the ground can dissolve nutrients, such as magnesium and calcium, that trees need to be healthy. Acid rain also causes aluminum to be released into the soil, which makes it difficult for trees to take up water.

How can we reduce acid rain?Scientists have found different ways to reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide released from coal-burning power plants. One option is to use coal that contains less sulfur. Another option is to “wash” the coal to remove some of the sulfur.

Besides fossil fuels, there is a wide range of alternative energy sources that can

generate electrical power. These include wind energy, geothermal energy, solar

energy, hydropower, and nuclear power. Harnessing these energy sources can

offer effective electrical power alternatives instead of using fossil fuels.