ACID RAIN Acid Rain--A Contemporary World Problem Acid rain is one of the most dangerous and widespread forms of pollution. Sometimes called "the unseen plague," acid rain can go undetected in an area for years. Technically, acid rain is rain that has a larger amount of acid in it than what is normal. The acidity of rain in parts of Europe and North America has dramatically increased over the past few decades. It is now common in many places for rain to be ten to seventy times more acid than unpolluted rain. Many living and non-living systems become harmed and damaged as a result of acid rain. This website gives an informational, in-depth look at acid rain--it's causes and effects; and solutions to the acid rain problem. Causes of Acid Rain Acid rain is caused by smoke and gases that are given off by factories and cars that run on fossil fuels. When these fuels are burned to produce energy, the sulfur that is present in the fuel combines with oxygen and becomes sulfur dioxide; some of the nitrogen in the air becomes nitrogen oxide. These pollutants go into the atmosphere, and become acid. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are produced especially when coal is burnt for fuel. Burning coal produces electricity, and the more electricity that people use, the more coal is burnt. Of course, nowadays people probably couldn't live without electricity, so coal will continue to be burnt; but electricity and energy are constantly being overused. Think of it this way: every time you turn on a light switch or the television set without really needing to, you're indirectly contributing to the acid rain problem. Automobiles produce nitrogen oxides (which cause acid rain), so every time you don't carpool when you can, you are helping to cause acid rain. So now that we know what causes acid rain, here's a look at how acid rain can hurt you and the world around you. . . Solutions to the Acid Rain Problem Acid rain is a big problem, but it is not unstoppable. If the amount of sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides in the air is reduced, then acid rain will be reduced. There are many helpful things that "normal" people (people who aren't part of a power company or the government) can do. First of all, conserve energy and pollute less! Use less electricity; and carpool, use public transportation, or walk when you can. This will help more than one might think. When less energy is used, less coal is burnt, and as a result, there is less acid rain. Experts say that if energy was used more carefully, we could cut the amount of fuel burned in half! Also, if coal was cleaned before it was burnt, the dangerous pollutants that cause acid rain would be cleaned away. If coal is crushed and washed in water, the sulfur washes out. However, this is a very costly method, and many power companies and governments do not want to spend their money cleaning coal. It is also costly to burn low-sulfur coal (low-sulfur coal gives off less sulfur in the air as opposed to high-sulfur coal).
People can help by writing letters or making phone calls to their power companies or their local/state/federal governments. They may not want to spend their money to stop acid rain, but if enough people speak out and voice their opinions, changes will have to be made. If you need someplace to start, here is the address to the U.S. Department of Energy: U.S. Department of Energy EE-11 1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20585-0121 What Acid Rain Hath Wrought Internationally Acid rain is truly a worldly problem. People, the environment, and other things all over the earth are suffering from acid rain--from the United States to the Arctic region. Here are a few of the major problems caused by acid rain around the world: In Brazil,fish are dying in the reddish water, trees are turning to skeletons, and human health has suffered immensely. Poland is one of the most polluted in the world, and burns coal with much sulfur in it. There is much human illness in cities close to coal burning factories, and in Crakow, the golden roof of a chapel is quickly dissolving. In the country of Czechoslovakia, the sickness rate for children is quite high because of acid rain, especially in the form of breathing problems. Much of the fresh water there is too acidic to drink. North America is a huge contributer to the world's pollution and acid rain. Back in 1982, in the United States and Canada alone, 51,000 people died from sulfur pollution (think of how much that number must have increased in 18 years!) In 1967, a bridge over the Ohio River collapsed due to corrosion from acid rain, and killed 46 people. In South Africa, There is lots of coal burning near Kruger National Park, and the park is currently facing the threat of acid rain. How Acid Rain Affects The Environment Acid rain is an extremely destructive form of pollution, and the environment suffers from its effects. Forests, trees, lakes, animals, and plants suffer from acid rain. Trees are an extremely important natural resource. They provide timber, regulate local climate, and forests are homes to wildlife. Acid rain can make trees lose their leaves or needles, as is shown in these pictures of forests damaged by acid rain in Germany. The needles and leaves of the trees turn brown and fall off. Trees can also suffer from stunted growth; and have damaged bark and leaves, which makes them vulnerable to weather,
disease, and insects. All of this happens partly because of direct contact between trees and acid rain, but it also happens when trees absorb soil that has come into contact with acid rain. The soil poisons the tree with toxic substances that the rain has deposited into it. Lakes are also damaged by acid rain. A lake polluted by acid rain will support only the hardiest species. Fish die off, and that removes the main source of food for birds. Also, birds can die from eating "toxic" fish and insects. Just as birds can be killed from eating toxic fish, fish can die from eating animals that are toxic. Acid rain can even kill fish before they are born. Acid rain hits the lakes mostly in the springtime, when fish lay their eggs. The eggs come into contact with the acid, and the entire generation can be killed. Fish usually die only when the acid level of a lake is high; when the acid level is lower, they can become sick, suffer stunted growth, or lose their ability to reproduce. How Acid Rain Affects Architecture Architecture and artwork can be destroyed by acid rain. Acid particles can land on buildings, causing corrosion. When sulfur pollutants fall of the sufaces of buildings (especially those made out of sandstone or limestone), they react with the minerals in the stone to form a powdery substance that can be washed away by rain. This powdery substance is called gypsum. Acid rain can damage buildings, stained glass, railroad lines, airplanes, cars, steel bridges, and underground pipes. The pictures above display what acid rain can do to architecture. The left picture shows castle stonework in the UK damaged by acid rain. The picture on the right shows how acid rain has eroded the stonework of a castle in Lincolnshire, England, and has left a figurehead barely visible. Currently, both the railway industry and the airplane industry are having to spend a lot of money to repair the corrosive damage done by acid rain. Also, bridges have collapsed in the past due to acid rain corrosion. How Acid Rain Affects People Humans can become seriously ill, and can even die from the effects of acid rain. One of the major problems that acid rain can cause in a human being is respiratory problems. Many can find it difficult to breathe, especially people who have asthma. Asthma, along with dry coughs, headaches, and throat irritations can be caused by the sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides from acid rain. Acid rain can be absorbed by both plants (through soil and/or direct contact) and animals (from things they eat and/or direct contact). When humans eat these plants or animals, the toxins inside of their meals can affect them. Brain damage, kidney problems, and Alzheimer's disease has been linked to people eating "toxic" animals/plants. When the United States Congress Office of Technology Assessment looked at the effects
of acid rain in North America in the year 1982, they discovered that sulfur pollution kills 51,000 people in a year, and about 200,000 people become ill as a result of the pollution. People are getting sick and dying, but we can stop it! Go back to the main page to discover solutions to the acid rain problem. What you can do to help reduce acid rain emissions Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are the main pollutants that cause acid rain. These pollutants are emitted largely by the combustion of fossil fuels. Reducing the use of fossil fuels therefore, including the use of electricity generated by coal- and oil-fired power plants, will help reduce acid rain-causing emissions. The following are some more specific suggestions on what you, as an individual, can do: In the home • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Install a low-flow showerhead. Run the dishwasher only with a full load. Run the washing machine with a full load. If using an automatic dishwasher, let the dishes air dry. Hang dry some-or all-of the laundry. Buy energy-efficient appliances. Avoid the use of air conditioners altogether. Turn out the lights in empty rooms and when away from home. Consider installing compact fluorescent bulbs instead of high-wattage incandescent bulbs. Turn off the hot water tank when going away for extended periods of time. Install additional insulation on the hot water tank and pipes. Insulate and draft-proof your basement. Weather-strip doors and windows. Turn down the heat at night and when away from home. If you have a forced-air furnace, change or clean its filters at least once a year. Don't use sink garbage disposal units.
In the yard • •
Consider changing to a low-maintenance landscape. If you have a pool, keep a cover over it when you are not using it.
While shopping •
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Look for products bearing the EcoLogo. They minimize the use of environmentally hazardous substances and maximize energy efficiency and the use of recycled materials. Buy locally produced or grown items from local stores and businesses. They don't require the transportation energy of imported products.
Transportation • • • • • • • • • • •
Walk, ride your bike or take a bus to work. Share a ride with a friend or co-worker. Have your engine tuned at least once every six months. Check your car tire pressure regularly. Use alternative fuels, such as ethanol, propane or natural gas. Avoid unnecessary idling. In the winter, warm your car's engine with a block heater for two to three hours prior to driving, rather than plugging in the battery overnight. Reduce the number of trips you make in your car. Drive at moderate speeds. Take the train or bus on long trips. Go CFC-Free.