FREE ESSAY ON ACID RAIN

ACID RAIN

Acid Rain 
The damaging effects of acid rain on society is becoming overwhelmed with great amounts
of pollution from cars, factories and an large amounts of garbage. The immense amounts of
sulphur dioxide put into the air causes high levels of acid in the atmosphere. When this
sulphuric acid is absorbed into moisture in the air, then rain can be harmful to the
environment. Acid rain is destroying lots of things in our environment. It is hurting
lakes, air and thew rest of our ecosystem. Acid rain is killing lakes and decreasing the
number of animals in these lakes. Acid rain greatly lowers the amounts of pH in the
water. Each decade the pH levels of lakes around Ontario have become ten times more
acidic. The high acid levels contained in lakes also causes a decrease in the number of
fish living in these lakes. Also the high amounts of acid in the water can lead to fish
being deformed. They have messed up and out of shape backbones, flattened heads and
strangely curved tails. When there gets to be a lot of acid in the water, then there is
barely anything left besides rock bass, pumpkinseed and lake herring. As with sulphur
dioxide in rain, mercury is also discharged into the water. There is a direct connection
between the mercury rich lakes as there is with those with high acidic levels. This metal
becomes concentrated in the blood and tissues of fish. Acid rain causes traumatic effects
in natural lakes and rivers. Acid rain causes air quality to deteriorate. As in water,
acid rain causes the pH levels in the air to decrease. The sulphur dioxide, which
diffuses into the air, mixes with moisture causing the pH levels to drop from the normal
level. Again, the normal level is somewhere around seven, yet in some acidic air masses
the levels can be as low as three. These lowered pH levels form a photochemical smog in
the atmosphere. In the air Anitrogen oxides react with ozone and some hydrocarbons in the
presence of sunlight to form photochemical smog, the kind of yellow-grey haze which it
literally alive and growing in stagnant air masses@ (Howard & Perley, 1980, p. 44). This
smog carries serious risk for respiratory disease and crop damage. The photochemical smog
is also causing the ozone layer to disintegrate. The ozone layer is becoming a part of
this smog, which is causing holes in it. An inordinate amount of sulphur dioxide is let
into the air, more than can be neutralized by nutrients in the air. Decrease in pH
levels, photochemical smog and depletion of the ozone layer are some effects of acid rain
in the air. The ecosystem is slowly eroding due to the increased amounts of acid in the
soil. Acid in the soil in causing the carbon dioxide respiration process to decelerate.
In order for plants to go through photosynthesis, they need carbon dioxide. When acid in
the soil causing this soil respiration to slow down, in turn it causes the photosynthesis
process to slow down. The soil also erodes when the pH levels drop. The acidic levels of
the soil cause nutrients in the soils such as aluminum to break apart and the soil to
erode. Soil erosion also causes a lower production of plants in the ecosystem. In the
soil a process of decay Acalled oligotrophication, means that fewer of the ions of acid
are neutralized by the depleted biological community so the acid can cause further
degeneration of natural processes, which in turn are less capable of combating the acid,
and so on, in an accelerating process@ (Howard & Perley, 1980, p. 32). Disruption in the
life span of trees and plants is also another effect of acid rain. The acid rain corrodes
the thin, waxy layer, which coats and protects the leaves letting the acid suffocate the
leaves. This can cause an interference in the plants metabolism and photosynthesis may be
altered meaning the leaves cannot produce and efficient amount of food which may result
in death of the plant. Acid may obtrude fertilization , stunt or kill the growth of seeds
and make them sterile. A second generation would be in danger of not being produced
causing deforestation. Naturally the reduction of plants is causing the biological food
chain to weaken. As smaller animals and insects feed on these plants lose their food
supply, they may also ensue death. In effect the animals which feed off of these animals
also ensue a decrease in their supply. In turn humans may become starved if the acid rain
effects increase. Acid rain causes death of soil, plants and animals, effecting the
ecosystem. Acid rain is becoming a major problem in our environment today. It is killing
our fresh water lakes and it=s occupants. Also the quality of air is depleting,
increasing the amount of smog and pollution in our atmosphere. Once the acid is absorbed
in the soil, this puts the ecosystem in jeopardy of extinction. This is killing plants,
animal, and soil, which is the basis of our existence. If this acid rain problem is not
dealt with urgently, the natural world may in hazard of demise.