Introduction: Acid Rain.
Sulfur oxides and nitrogen are essential pollutants in the air. These gasses are released in the air by a combination of fossil fuels, fires, power plants, and domestic fires. These oxides flood the atmosphere and travel thousands of miles. The longer they stay in the atmosphere, the more likely they are to be oxidized into acids and precipitated on the ground as acid rain.
Discovered in 1872 during the Industrial Revolution, acid rain still exists today. Undoubtedly, acid rain has affected human health and other things. The top five effects of acid rain are, therefore, as follows:
1. Effects of acid rain on vegetation:
Several studies show that the release of a tremendous amount of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the air, especially from various power plants, has cause acid rain, which damages different vegetation.
Acid rain does not kill trees directly. In turn, trees are more likely to damage their leaves, restricting the nutrients available for them or poisoning it with toxins that are gradually released by the soil. The primary air pollutants affecting trees are nitrate and sulfate, wherefrom sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are derived. Further, the first sign that the trees are in trouble due to air pollution is the decline in forest cover.
2. Effects of acid rain on Historical Monuments and archaeological sites:
Historic buildings and archaeological sites are essential properties of a country as these displays the rich customs and traditions and are increasingly rare tools for learning about the past. However, toxic gasses such as sulfate and nitrates emitted by various power plants have damaged and eroded the materials used for constructing these monuments like sandstone limestone marble, and granite.
Acid rain weakens and disintegrates these materials and accelerates natural decomposition. Granite, which is highly resistant to acids, is still mined and stained with acid rain, and pollutants carry it away. Similarly, limestone and marble are also soluble in acid. Acid rain has disrupted the beauty of historical monuments and archaeological sites around the world.
Some of these great historical monuments affected by acid rain are the Leshan Giant Buddha, Mount Emei (China), the Longmen Grottoes (China), the Taj Mahal (India), the Acropolis of Athens (Greece), and the Dampier Rock Art Complex (Australia).
3. Effects of acid rain on the aquatic ecosystem:
When acid rain enters the lakes streams and rivers, it leads to acidification of the water bodies and affects the entire marine ecosystem. The acidic conditions have hampered the different species of fish tadpoles and small insects where they are having trouble in reproducing in some cases, they eventually, die.
Mainly caused by the emission of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide from the coal-based power plant and petroleum refinery, acid rains are carried away by prevailing winds to elsewhere where precipitation takes place. For example, Canada gets acid rains from the petrochemical units in North America, which affects the entire environment.
Several studies show that over 18,000 lakes in Sweden have become acidified. Many lakes in Canada, Norway, and the United States have become polluted and contaminated due to acidity. The fish population has decreased tremendously, and the fish lakes are now fish Graveyard. Further, acidification has killed many bacteria and blue-green algae, thus disrupting the aquatic ecosystem's ecological balance.
4. Effects of acid rain on agriculture:
When acid rain falls on the ground, it percolates in the soil and makes the soil acidic, thereby affecting the crops' growth, hampering the entire farming communities.
The acidic nature of acid rain removes nutrients from the soil and makes agriculture less productive. Soils with high alkaline content, such as calcium carbonate or limestone neutralize acids and are less sensitive. Other soils usually contain essential minerals for plants, but the acid in acid rain dissolves them, making the plant less productive or killing the crop.
Acid rain affects both the productivity and grade of agricultural products. It can damage the leaves of vegetables such as spinach and cause blemishes on delicate products such as tomatoes.
5. Effects of acid rain on Humans:
Acid rains undoubtedly hamper human health. When humans breathe in air containing sulfur oxides and nitrogen, which are the source of acid rain, it can cause health problems like bronchitis and asthma.
Further, acidification of lakes caused by acid rains contaminates the fishes in the aquatic ecosystem. These contaminated fishes are consumed by humans and ultimately affecting their health. Similarly, studies show acid rain has hampered agricultural productivity as a result of which the farmers cannot sustain their families and repay their debts. Such ordeal has compelled many farmers in developing and underdeveloped countries to commit suicide.
Acid rain is a human-made phenomenon with a devastating impact on the ecosystem, humans, and the entire environment. Hence, to reduce or prevent it from occurring, we should plant more trees, restrict industrial emission, and encourage the use of an environmentally friendly source of energy.
Internet Sources:
1. Cyak.org
Sources: https://www.cyark.org/news/top-5-endangered-heritage-sites-acid-rain
2. Sciencing.com
Sources: https://sciencing.com/acid-rain-effect-agriculture-20667.html
Sources: https://sciencing.com/facts-5651871-effects-acid-rain-monuments.html
3. Public Service Commission of Wisconsin: Environmental Impacts of Power Plants.com
Sources: https://psc.wi.gov/Documents/Brochures/Enviromental%20Impacts%20of%20PP.pdf.
4. www.epa.gov
The United States Environmental Protection Agency: The Effects of Acid Rain on Ecosystems.
Sources: https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects-acid-rain
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