Acid Rain Essay Research Paper Pollution comes

Acid Rain Essay, Research Paper

Pollution comes in various forms. Whether it?s toxic waste, CFC?s, or

sewage, they are all hazardous, to the earth. These can deplete the earth and

it?s inhabitants of resources, causing a harmful change. A product of

pollution is acid rain. We shall see that acidification is harmful to all forms

of life. Acid rain is any form of precipitation that is polluted by sulphur

dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOX). This acid precipitation can be in the

form of rain, snow, sleet, fog, or cloud vapors. The acidity of substances

dissolved in water are measured by their pH levels. Normal precipitation pH

levels fall between 5.0-5.6.2 When levels fall below these numbers, then the

precipitation is said to be acidic. There are two ways in which acid deposition

can form. The first way occurs when nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide land on

the Earth?s surface, and interact with frost or dew. The second way takes

place due to the oxidation of nitrogen oxides or sulphur dioxide gases that are

released into the air.3 Since it may take up to several days for the gases to be

altered into their acid counter-parts, the pollutants can travel miles away from

their original source. Emissions of (SO2) are responsible for the majority of

the acid deposition, which falls to Earth. When we burn coal, we are releasing

(SO2), into the air, since coal is slight made up of sulphur. Volcanic eruptions

can add a great deal of sulphur into the atmosphere. Everyday organic decay adds

sulphur into the air as well. (SO2) can hit the Earth?s surface in dry forms

or wet forms, by undergoing the following reactions: (SO2 + H20 *** H2SO3) (SO2

+ ?O2 *** SO3 + H2SO4)2 Human activity is the major cause for nitrogen

oxides? presence in our atmosphere, such as forest fires and the combustion of

oil, coal, and gas. The other causes are due to nature. Lightning, volcanic

action, and bacteria in soil are just to name a few. The following chemical

reactions show how acids of nitrogen form: (NO2 + ?O2 *** NO2) (2NO2 + H2O ***

HNO2 + HNO3) (NO2 + OH *** HNO3)2 Acid rain can affect plant life directly when

the surface of leaves and needles come into contact with acid vapor or fog. This

causes a reduction in the tree?s ability to withstand the cold. A direct

result would be the tree’s incapability of reproduction. It can also harm plant

life indirectly, by the acidification of soils. Acid rain can cause soil to

loose nutrients such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. In very acid

conditions, aluminum becomes soluble, and is released from the soil. At high

enough concentrations, aluminum can cause damage to roots. Acid rain causes a

nutrient imbalance, in soil. Although it is true that nitrogen promotes forest

growth, plant life also needs other nutrients. Precipitation polluted by

nitrogen can contain heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium, and lead. This

process is known as nitrogen saturation.1 These too, can cause damage to tree

roots. Besides trees, plants are also affected by acid rain. Reductions in pH

levels can cause seed germination to be inhibited. Plant structures become weak,

due to the loss of nutrients to the plant?s tissues.4 Flowering of certain

plants may not occur due to lack of essential minerals. Marine life is also

greatly affect by acid rain. Acid water can leach high levels of aluminum from

the bedrock. Rocks that contain great amounts of calcium or magnesium can act as

a neutralizer. Those rocks and soils that lack some sort of buffers can cause

grave damage to marine fish and plants. There are two ways in which aluminum can

harm aquatic environments. It can cause a fish to suffocate, because aluminum

precipitates in gills, thus interfering in the transport of oxygen. Secondly,

fish produce mucus to combat the aluminum, in their gills. The mucus then builds

up a clogs the fish?s gills.5 In middle latitudes many bodies of water

experience what is called ?acid shock.?4 Over the winter acid deposits can

build up on snow. As the snow melts, the acids are released. Most fish can

survive shock, but their eggs cannot adapt to acidification. When there is a

change in the chemistry of water, the ecology of the water begins to change. The

number and variety of species are altered. At a pH level of 6.0 certain types of

zooplankton and green algae begin to disappear. The loss of green plants allows

more UV light to penetrate to further depths, so certain types of snails and

phyto-plankton disappear. Frogs, toads, and salamanders are also affected by

acid rain.5 The low pH stunts their growth. Not only does acid rain kill

species, but also it alters the food supply for higher fauna. If there is a

decrease in the number of bottom dwelling organisms (benthos), there can be a

decline in the number of insects, such as mosquitoes and flies. This puts a

stress on carnivorous fish. Birds

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