Effects of Acid Rain on Humans

Acid rain looks, feels, and tastes just like clean rain. The harm to people from acid rain is not direct. Walking in acid rain, or even swimming in an acid lake, is no more dangerous than walking or swimming in clean water. The air pollution that causes acid rain is more damaging to human health. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, the major sources of acid rain, can irritate or even damage our lungs.

The pollutants that cause acid rain can also reduce visibility, limiting how far into the distance we can see. The primary pollutants associated with acid rain and poor visibility are human-made sulfur dioxide emissions. These emissions form small sulfate particles, or aerosols, in the atmosphere. These aerosols reduce visibility by scattering light. Sulfate aerosols are the main cause of poor visibility in the eastern United States.

Nitrogen oxide emissions are also associated with the acid rain problem. They, too, can form aerosols in the atmosphere that significantly reduce visibility. Nitrate aerosols are often the main cause for poor visibility in the western United States where sulfur dioxide emissions and humidity are lower than in the east.

Making Acid in the Air

The final concentration of acids (mainly sulfuric acid, H₂SO₄ and nitric/nitrous acid, HNO₃/HNO₂) in precipition (acidity) is dependent on emissions of SO₂ and NO_x from sources, weather conditions andother chemicals present in the atmoshpere. The formation of sulfuric and nitric/nitrous acid in the atmosphere is a complex process involving several chemical reactions involving both solution and gas phase reactions.

SO₂

Gas phase	Solution phase
2SO2 + O2® 2SO3 very slow in the absence of a catalyst, therefore this is not a significant contributor	1) SO2 (aq)® H+ + HSO3- 2) HSO3- (aq)® H+ + SO32- The equilibrium concentraions for the above reactions are dependent upon such things as pH, droplet size, the "sticking coefficient" for SO2 on water, etc.
2SO3 + H2O® H2SO4 occurs quickly, therefore any formation of SO3 in the moist atmosphere is assumed to lead to the formation of sulfuric acid	1) HSO3- + H2O2® A- + H20 2) A- + H+® H2SO4 The dominant oxidation process occurs by hydrogen peroxide (formed in the gas phase from free radicals). The reaction involves the formation of an intermediate (A-), possibly a peroxymonosulfurous acid ion
1) HSO3- + H2O2® A- + H20 2) A- + H+® H2SO4 The dominant oxidation process occurs by hydrogen peroxide (formed in the gas phase from free radicals). The reaction involves the formation of an intermediate (A-), possibly a peroxymonosulfurous acid ion

NO_x

Gas Phase	Aqueous Phase
HO + NO2 (+M)® HONO2(+M) the principal contributor to the formation of nitric acid is the reaction with hydroxy radicals. These radicals are highly reactive and abundant in the atmosphere.	1. 2NO2(g) + H2O(l)® 2H+ + NO3- + NO2- 2. NO(g) + NO2(g) + H2O(l)® 2H+ + 2NO2- 3. 3NO2(g) + H2O(l)® 2H+ + 2NO3- + NO(g) Equilibria of three reactions define the aqueous oxidation of Nox and depend on the partial pressures of NOx present in the atmosphere, temperature, humidity and the low solubility of NOx.

What Region of the United States Is Most Affected by Acid Rain?

Acid rain didn't become an environmental problem until the burning of large quantities of fossil fuels during the industrial age. Some acid rain occurs naturally, but sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from smokestacks combine with rain to make sulfuric and nitric acid in amounts that harm the environment. The region of the United States most harmed by acid rain is the East Coast, including the Appalachian Mountains and the Northeast.

Lakes and Streams

In a study of the nation's lakes and streams that show acidic conditions, the National Surface Water Survey found that acid rain caused the acidity in 75 percent of the lakes and about 50 percent of the streams. Greatest acidity occurred along the Atlantic coast, where waters have naturally higher acidity to begin with. The highest rate of stream acidity, over 90 percent, occurs in the New Jersey Pine Barrens region. Little Echo Pond in Franklin, New York, had one of the most acidic conditions, according to the study, with a pH of 4.2.

Forests and Soils

Acid rain degrades soils by washing away chemicals such as calcium and magnesium, which buffer acidity and provide essential nutrients to plants. Acidity also releases potentially toxic dissolved aluminum into water. Appalachian forests from Maine to Georgia are particularly affected. Trees usually don't die outright but are weakened and more susceptible to pathogens, insects, drought or extreme cold. Scientists expect that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Acid Rain Program, which reduces sulfur dioxide emissions, will significantly reduce acidification along the East Coast.

What Place in the World Receives the Most Acid Rain?

Acid rain is responsible for severe environmental destruction across the world and occurs most commonly in the North Eastern United States, Eastern Europe and increasingly in parts of China and India. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acid rain can be particularly damaging to the young from many species of plant and wildlife.

What is Acid Rain?

Nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide are polluting byproducts of soft-coal-burning power plants and factories, and are the main culprits in the production of acid rain. When these chemicals combine with water and particulates in the atmosphere, the result is precipitation, which includes rain, snow and fog, laden with nitric and sulfuric acids, otherwise known as acid rain.

The Black Triangle

Covering areas of the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland, the Black Triangle is an area that received heavy acid rain throughout the 1970s and 80s. In parts of the Black Triangle, entire forests were dead or dying and even railroad tracks were being corroded by the acidic precipitation. The emissions of coal-burning factories in Eastern Europe came under strict regulation by the Geneva Convention of 1979 to prevent further acid rain pollution, a measure that has been successful in significantly reducing acid deposition in the region.

Eastern United States

Parts of the Eastern United States were also once plagued by some of the highest levels of acid rain in the world, due to emissions from Midwestern coal-burning power plants. In parts of New Jersey, for example, over 90 percent of freshwater streams are still acidic today due to acid rain, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. While the effects of acid rain are still felt in the region, acid rain itself has significantly decreased as a result of the Clean Air Act of 1970 and its subsequent amendments.

Changing Trends

Because of the laws enacted in the United States and Europe regulating emissions from coal-burning factories, and the adoption of mitigating technologies, such as limestone injection burners, reburners, flue gas desulphurizers and low-sulfur burners, these areas receive less acid rain today than in the past, according to a report from the environmental watchdog group Earthwatch Institute. The habitats in these countries suffered extensive damage and recovery is slow, but international concern over acid rain has since shifted focus to other parts of the world. In China and India, rapid industrial growth and lax pollution regulations could combine to produce the highest levels of acid rain in the developing world.

Acid Rain in Asia

Since the year 2000, levels of nitric and sulfuric acid in precipitation have been steadily increasing in Asian cities such as Beijing and New Delhi as domestic demand for electricity and manufactured goods increases. Without pollution regulations on the rapid industrial growth in the developing nations of China and India, acid rain could continue to grow in potency and reach until a similar crisis level as seen in Europe and the United States in the 1980s, according to a report by Science News.

Solutions and Ways Forward

In the United States, there are measures to protect the environment from the effects of acid rain including the EPA's Acid Rain program developed following the Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990 which aims to lower sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants. Responsible steps like these, towards lowering contaminants in the air can help to halt the destruction of acid rain.

Alternate Ways to Reduce The Acid Rain

Acid rain is a very serious environmental threat faced by our planet today. Millions of people get affected by it on a daily basis. Acid rain occurs when high levels of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide enter in the atmosphere and start undergoing chemical transformation. These harmful gases are absorbed by water droplets in the clouds and they fall on the earth during rains. They can damage the natural soil by increasing the acidity levels and pollute rivers and lakes. Acid rain is actually a broad term which is used to describe different types of acid that fall from the atmosphere on earth. It's mainly divided into wet and dry. Parts of the world which experience wet weather have acid rain, acid snow and fog. Other parts which experience dry weather for most of the year experience acid gas and acid dust.

Today people can see the effects of acid rain everywhere they go. Dead and weakened trees are a very common sign of acid rain, while in cities worn off or scarred buildings are also a result of acid rain. This problem is more prevalent in the northern hemisphere where there's a huge growth in the number of industries. Winds absorb more and more quantities of harmful gases produced by various kinds of industries. In addition to this, even natural sources like volcanoes, forest fires and lighting contribute to this man-made pollution.

How to Prevent Acid Rain

Acid rain has existed since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution which also marked the start of various factories. The harmful rain was discovered by an English scientist, Robert Angus Smith who came up with the term 'Acid Rain' in 1872, when he saw corrosion on the surfaces of buildings and plants because of rain. However, acid rain became an important government issue only after six to seven decades. 1980 marked the beginning of the 'Acid Deposition Act' in which environmental agencies started monitoring areas which were effected by acid rain. Since then a lot of research has been conducted and common people like us can do a lot to help environmental agencies prevent acid rain. Here are some pointers.

One of the main causes of acid rain is a sudden drop in the pH levels of water and that happens because of absorption of harmful gases by the atmosphere. The best way to restore the pH balance of water is to limit the use of items which run on gasoline. Instead use products which run on electricity; as they are much easier to run and maintain.

Another great thing that all people can do is to learn how to drive cars efficiently. While driving on roads there are a lot of things that can be done to reduce smoke emission from cars. Drivers should ease up as soon as the yellow light rather than slamming on the brakes and they shouldn't rush away as soon as the lights turn green. These small practices help reduce the wastage of gasoline and helps people save a lot of money on fuel.

Learn about the different sources of energy besides fossil fuels and try to implement them in daily usage. Many nations like France and Germany are using electrical, nuclear, wind and sun energy on large basis which has helped cut down on the pollution levels.

Another great tip which almost all of us can practice is to always keep the vehicle tires inflated. Tires having proper pressure will provide users with a better fuel economy.

Limit the use of buses or cars for small things, people can also make use of cycles or walk to cover small distances.

Turn off your lights, computers and other appliances when not in use and turn the thermostat of the house at 68°F in winter and 72°F in summer when the house is empty.

Nowadays, though people don't hear about acid rain anymore, it's still a global problem faced by many nations. It's very unfortunate to see that humans are the ones who have a very important role to play in this destruction.