Acid Rain
...nd falls back to earth, usually in the form of rain, snow, or fog. Oxidations occurs the most in clouds and heavily polluted air where other compounds such as ammonia and ozone help to catalyze the reaction, converting more sulphur dioxide into sulphuric acid. (Elliot/Schweiger 1984) Although there is very little data, the evidence indicates that in the last twenty to thirty years the acidity of rain has increased in many parts of the United States. Currently, the U.S. annually discharges more than 26 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. Overall, two-thirds of the sulfur dioxide released into the atmosphere in the U.S. comes from coal and oil fired plants. Industrial boilers, smelter and refineries contribute 26%, commercial institutions and residences 5%, and transportation 3%. Although the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, are largely to blame for approximately half of the emissions of this gas, natural sources such as volcanoes, sea spray, rotting vegetation, and plankton are just as responsible for emitting the same gases. (Ray/Guzzo 1992) In conjunction with the sulfur dioxide, the U.S. currently discharges 23 million tons of nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere each year. Transportation sources account for 40%, power plants 30%; industrial sources 25%, and commercial institutes and residences 5%. Disturbingly, the nitrogen oxide emissions have tripled in the last 30 years. The National Academy of Science estimates damage from acid rain to be at least 5 billion dollars a year in the United States. (Ray/Guzzo 1992) Effects of Acid Rain Most of us feel that if we cannot see a problem on a daily basis that it doesn’t exist. But the fact is, acid rain affects our environment more than we think. The effects of acid rain are very great and diverse. The main affect of acid rain could be the price that we as humans pay physically. Among one of the most serious side affects of acid pollution on humans is respiratory problems. The SO2 and NO2 emissions give rise to respiratory such as asthma, dry coughs, headaches, and eye, nose and throat irritations. Far more insidious are the increasing incidents of lung cancer, bronchitis, and emphysema attributed to breathing tiny particles of sulfur and other pollutants. An indirect effect of acid precipitation on humans is that the toxic metals dissolved in the water and absorbed in fruits, vegetables, and in the tissues of animals. Although these toxins do not affect the animals, they have serious effects on humans when they are being consumed. (Heij/Erisman 1995) Acid deposition penetrates deeply into the fabric of an ecosystem, changing the chemistry of the soil as well as the chemistry of the streams and narrowing, sometimes to nothing, the space where certain plants and animals can survive. Because there are so many changes, it takes many years for ecosystems to recover from acid deposition, even after emissions are reduced and the rain becomes normal again. For example, while the visibility might improve within days, and small or episodic chemical changes in streams improve within months, chronically acidified lakes, streams, forests, and soils can take years to decades or even centuries (in the case of soils) to heal. Since the aquatic ecosystem has no time to adjust to the introduction of acids and chemicals produced by acid rain, affected lakes and streams are no longer able to sustain many kids of fish life and spawning waters are threatened. Man-made monuments like the Statue of Liberty are etched and worn. Other statues and tablets made of bronze, limestone, marble, and sandstone are slowly wearing away. Many of the ruins in Mexico have turned black from acid rain. Due to soil deterioration, acid rain is responsible for the loss of two or four billion dollars worth of wheat, corn, soybeans and peanuts. This is devastating for the income of the farmers as well as the people who purchase these goods. Mountain forests, especially those closest to the acidic clouds, illustrate the long-term effects of acid rain by stunted growth, inexplicable dropping of needles and leaves and the depletion of fragile species. Scientists believe that acid rain does not kill trees, but weakens them to the point where they are no longer able to withstand normal periods of moderate drought, insect infestation or disease. (Ray/Guzzo 1992) Solutions The Academy of Science reports, EPA studies, international panels, United Nations data, and more, insist that the only way to combat acid rain is to slow the emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. With a little common sense, us, as individuals, can help combat this problem by: · Turning off lights, computers, and other appliances when you're not using them · Using energy efficient appliances: lighting, air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators, washing machines, etc. · Only use electric appliances when you need them. · Keeping your thermostat at 68 F in the winter and 72 F in the summer. You can turn it even lower in the winter and higher in the summer when you are away from home. · Insulating your home as best you can. · Carpooling, using public transportation, or better yet, walking or bicycling whenever possible · Buying vehicles with low NOx emissions, and maintaining all vehicles well. · Being well informed. (www.epa.com) Since the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1970, there has been an overall reduction of more than 40% in factory and utility sulfur dioxide production. But, disturbingly, as sulfur dioxide emissions decrease, nitrogen emissions have increased, primarily from oil burning and the oil used in transportation. In 1990, President Bush signed the Clean Air Act Amendment pushing for a stronger reduction program complimenting health-based sulfur dioxide pollution limits already in place to protect the public and the environment from both nearby and distant sources of sulfur dioxide. The law set up a market-based system designed to lower sulfur d...