Introduction
Humans and animals both rely on the natural resources from the earth to survive daily. However, this natural resources and the environment are majorly negatively impacted by acid rain. Acid rain denotes a mixture of dry and wet substrate material from the air that contains higher than average levels of sulfuric and nitric acids (Liu et al., 2020). It refers to acidic rain due to specific air pollutants caused by automobiles and industrial activities. It is easily characterized as rain, sleet, snow, or fog that has become acidic due to air pollutants caused by industrial combustions and fossil fuel, which primarily generate Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2). NOX and SO2 react with oxygen water to produce nitric and sulfuric acids. After that, the acids mix with water, among other materials, before dwindling to the ground (Liu et al., 2020). They become acid-sensitive areas that negatively affect the environment in the long run.
Background Science of the Environmental Issue
In acid-sensitive environments, acid deposition can destroy species and lower the acidity of water bodies (Mohajan, 2018). It harms forests making them more prone to other stresses like cold, drought, and pests. In acid-sensitive areas, acid rain erodes soil, removing nutrients to plants and stabilizers like magnesium and calcium and releasing aluminum in its lethal dissolved form, which is linked to soil and rock. Additionally, it leads to the deterioration of marble constructions and limestone by accelerating the corrosion of these structures exposed to the polluted air.
The detrimental effect of the region’s polluted, acidic air on marble and limestone was observed by John Evelyn in the seventeenth century (Grennfelt et al., 2020). He commented on the poor condition of the marbles from Arundel. This was during the industrial revolution. Since then, outflows of nitrogen oxides and Sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere have increased. Evident enough from the present effects of the acid rain experienced. You will see weakened and dead tree stands if you travel through the Mountains. You may notice weathered stone structures, stripes on the roof of the car, or corroded metal bars and statues if you reside in a city. Acid rain’s impacts can be seen almost everywhere. Although acid rain has been dramatically decreased in some locations, it continues to be a significant ecological issue within and downstream of major agricultural and industrial regions worldwide. The Northeastern United States has the highest levels of acidity (lowest pH values). The vast number of cities, large population, electricity concentration, and industrial sectors in the Northeast contributed to this high level of acidity (Mohajan, 2018). Additionally, pollutants and storms from the Midwest are carried to the Northeast by the predominant direction of the wind, and dust from the rocks and soil in the Northeast is less prone to buffer acidity in the rain. The significant factors contributing to the worsening of acid rain effects are the natural causes and human activities.
Causes of Acid Rain
Natural Causes
Volcanic eruptions are the most common natural origin of acid rain. Volcanoes emit acid-releasing gases that cause acidity levels in rain or other types of precipitation, including mist and snow, to rise above normal levels, affecting vegetation cover and the well-being of residents (Mohajan, 2018). Acid rain-causing gases are also produced by decaying plants, out-of-control fires, and natural processes within the ground. In addition, lightning strikes generally produce nitric oxides, which react with water particles and provide nitric acid via electrical action, resulting in acid rain.
Man-Made Causes
Acid rain is primarily caused by human activities that cause gas emissions, such as nitrogen and Sulphur. Air pollution sources that transport nitrogen and Sulphur gases, such as power generation plants and automobile emissions, are included in the activities. The usage of coal for electricity generation is the leading source of vaporous emissions that generate acid rain. Manufacturing plants and vehicles also regularly emit large amounts of vaporous emissions into the atmosphere, particularly in industrialized regions and urban areas with high levels of vehicle movement (Mohajan, 2018). As a result, acid rain levels in these places are extremely high, leading to environmental issues.
Environmental issues
In general, the environment can acclimatize to a certain quantity of acid rain. Frequently, the soil is slightly acidic. These soils try to balance out a few of the acidity of acid rain since bases neutralize acids (Liu et al., 2020). Acid rain can impact the ecology in locations where limestone is not typically present in the soil, such as the Rocky Mountains and areas of the northwest and the southeast United States. However, as the soil tends to balance the acidity, too much concentration in the soil can lead to some damage. For instance, sensitive soil microorganisms that cannot adapt to changes in pH will be killed (Liu et al., 2020). Enzymes for the soil microbes are magnesium and calcium are leached away by hydrogen ions of acids. Furthermore, water bodies are also affected by acid rain.
Most waterways would have acid levels of around 6.5 if acid rain and pollution were not present. However, acid rain has led to numerous water channels in the northeast United States and elsewhere having significantly lower pH levels. Furthermore, aluminum deposited into the soil ultimately finds its way into streams and lakes. Unfortunately, the increase in acidity and aluminum levels can be fatal to aquatic species, including frogs, spotted salamanders, crayfish, and other creatures (Mohajan, 2018). Other than animals, humans are also affected.
Nitrogen oxide and Sulfur dioxide gases and their fine particles derivatives such as nitrates and sulfates diminish visibility in the atmosphere. They can lead to accidents, resulting in deaths and injuries. Humans are not directly impacted by acid rain since acid precipitation is too diluted to create significant health concerns. Dry depositions such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can lead to substantial health problems when inhaled nonetheless. Increased acid depositions in a dry state in the atmosphere can induce heart and lung ailments such as asthma and bronchitis. The deposition of acid is also highly detrimental to forests.
Acid rain that penetrates the ground can dissolve minerals that trees necessitate to thrive, including calcium. Additionally, fir trees and spruce that grows at higher altitudes in mountainous regions are predominantly vulnerable since they are subjected to acidic fog and clouds, containing more acid than snow or rain. Acidic fog and clouds reduce essential nutrients in the needles and leaves of the plants. Cold weather, Insects, and infections are all made more accessible by the lack of nutrients; hence it is easier for diseases, cold weather, and insects to harm the forest (Mohajan, 2018). Therefore it is evident that the acidification of both water and land has caused many adverse effects hence need solutions to help curb these problems.
Solutions
Acidification of water and land has reached a critical degree that requires immediate attention and action. As a result, the government can incentivize firms to help them adopt new industrial and technical methods. Because it is clear that most human activities harm the air, businesses must adopt more efficient production techniques to reduce hazardous gas emissions. Examples of these techniques include utilizing renewable energy sources, producing cleaner cars with lower dangerous gas emissions, and applying the liming process to repair the environment. Because it may be costly, the government can provide incentives to encourage these, which will reduce air pollution and acid rain in the long run. These techniques reduce the levels of acid rain in the following ways;
Other Sources of Energy
Producing electricity without fossil fuels is an excellent method to avert acid rain. Individuals can instead utilize renewable sources of energy like wind and solar power, as they produce much less pollution hence helping to reduce acid rain. Industries can use these sources of energy to produce electricity. Less air pollution can also be employed in automobiles.
Cleaner Cars
Automobiles are critical polluting sources that produce acid rain. Whereas a single-vehicle does not cause a lot of pollutants, if all of the vehicles on the road are combined, a lot of pollution is produced (Rinkesh, 2021). Therefore, automakers need to decrease the amount of NOx and other air pollutants released by new vehicles. This is by ensuring the new vehicles can utilize cleaner fuels, such as natural gas. This leads to low-emission automobiles, which are better for the environment. The environment can also be restored by businesses using liming process.
Restoring Damaged Environments
The use of lime or limestone, a procedure called liming, is a practice that individuals can overhaul the harm caused by acid rain to brooks, lakes, and rivers (Rinkesh, 2022). Lime is often used to neutralize pH in acidic bodies of water. It’s a procedure that can be used in various situations to keep the pH of water at its appropriate level. Although liming is an expensive technique that must be repeated, I am confident that it will be pretty beneficial. Furthermore, it merely serves as a band-aid solution, obviating the need to address the more severe issues of NOx and SO2 emissions, as well as human health dangers. Nonetheless, it aids in the regeneration and survival of marine living organisms by improving chronically acidified water sources. Other than the government, society can also reduce the acid rain concentration.
Society Involvement
However, government entities are not the only ones that can help to halt acid rain. Millions of people, indirectly and directly, contribute to NOx and SO2 emissions. Government must adequately inform individuals about energy conservation and strategies to reduce emissions to mitigate this problem. Because energy production produces enormous volumes of harmful gases causing acid rain, conserving energy is essential for society. They can do this in various ways, including taking public transportation, turning off lights and electronic equipment when not in use, utilizing energy-efficient electronic devices, and driving low-NOx automobiles (Savedge, 2021). By implementing these practices, society will reduce air pollutants that cause acid rain, hence lessening the impact on the environment in the future.
Conclusion
Acid rain is an environmental problem induced by accumulating acidic compounds in the atmosphere. Acid rain is harmful to the environment in both positive and negative ways. Acid rain is caused by natural sources that are beyond our control. However, we have provoked enough causes, and we have all of the resources on the planet to control them. We can accomplish this by imposing censorship on heavy industries that harm our environment. Additionally, environmentally friendly lifestyles must be adopted and practiced by society. Society must promote alternative energy sources to avoid the harmful emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
References
Grennfelt, P., Engleryd, A., Forsius, M., Hov, Ø, Rodhe, H., & Cowling, E. (2020). Acid rain and air pollution: 50 years of environmental science and policy progress. Ambio, 49(4), 849-864.
Liu, X., Li, C., Meng, M., Zhai, L., Zhang, B., Jia, Z., & Zhang, J. (2020). Comparative effects of the recovery from sulfuric and nitric acid rain on the soil enzyme activities and metabolic functions of soil microbial communities. Science of The Total Environment, 714, 136788.
Mohajan, H. (2018). Acid rain is local environmental pollution but a global concern.
Rinkesh. (2021). Acid Rain: Causes, Effects, and Solutions to Increase in the pH Level – Conserve Energy Future. Conserve Energy Future. Web.
Savedge, J. (2021). Can Acid Rain Kill You? Treehugger. Web.