Acid Rain Effects on Humans and Plant Life

Acid rain has no direct effect on humans, but the pollutants in the rain do damage human health.  Acid rain has the ability to harm us by being in our atmosphere, as well as the soil where we grow our food.  These gases form fine sulfate and nitrate particles by interacting in our atmosphere. These particles can be transported very long distances by winds, and inhaled deep into people’s lungs. When inhaled, they cause damage to the respiratory organs by attacking the membranes in them, which increases the chances of respiratory diseases.  In areas of elevated levels of fine particles there has been an increase in illness and premature death do to heart and lung disorders, such as asthma and bronchitis.  Acid rain results in toxic metals breaking loose from the chemical compounds they occur in naturally.  These toxic metals are then able to get into the drinking water, and the animals or crops that we humans use as sources of food.  This contaminated food can damage the nerves in children, or result in severe brain damage, or even death.

Acid rain affects plant life in two different ways.  One way it affects plants is by seeping into the earth and dissolving toxic substances in the soil which gets absorbed by the roots of plants and trees, poisoning them.  Acid rain also dissolves beneficial minerals and nutrients in the soil, which are then washed away before the plants and trees have a chance of using them in order to grow.  When there is frequent acid rain, it corrodes the waxy protective coating on the leaves, making the plant susceptible to disease.  When the leaves are damaged, the plant loses its ability to produce enough amounts of nutrition to stay healthy. Once the plant has become weak, it becomes vulnerable to cold weather, insects, and disease, which can lead to its death.