What is Acid Rain?

Acid Rain is a term used to describe different ways in which acid falls from our atmosphere.  A better term would be Acid Deposition, which is made up of two parts, wet and dry deposition.  Wet deposition is composed of acidic rain, fog, or snow, where as dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles.  This deposition contains higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. 

Causes of Acid Rain

 The leading cause of acid deposition is the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide during fossil fuel combustion.  These gases, which are responsible for acid deposition, are normally the result of electric power generation and the burning of fossil fuels such as coal.  Sulfur dioxide is the byproduct of power-production companies and industries that burn fossil fuels like coal and oil as a source of energy.  However, it can also be caused by natural sources, such as rotting vegetation, plankton, sea spray, and volcanoes.  Nitrogen oxide is produced in firing processes which involve extremely high temperatures; for example utility plants, automobiles, and chemical industries.  Nitrogen oxide can also be formed by natural processes like lightning, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and action of bacteria in the soil.


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Multiple Effects

Acid rain has many diverse effects as well.  Acid rain effects plant life, aquatic life, surface waters, man-made objects, and most of all humans. 

Effects on Humans

Acid rain has no direct effect on humans, but the pollutants in the rain do damage human health.  Acid rain has the ability to harm us by being in our atmosphere, as well as the soil where we grow our food.  These gases form fine sulfate and nitrate particles by interacting in our atmosphere. These particles can be transported very long distances by winds, and inhaled deep into people’s lungs. When inhaled, they cause damage to the respiratory organs by attacking the membranes in them, which increases the chances of respiratory diseases.  In areas of elevated levels of fine particles there has been an increase in illness and premature death do to heart and lung disorders, such as asthma and bronchitis.  Acid rain results in toxic metals breaking loose from the chemical compounds they occur in naturally.  These toxic metals are then able to get into the drinking water, and the animals or crops that we humans use as sources of food.  This contaminated food can damage the nerves in children, or result in severe brain damage, or even death.

Effects on Plant Life

Acid rain affects plant life in two different ways.  One way it affects plants is by seeping into the earth and dissolving toxic substances in the soil which gets absorbed by the roots of plants and trees, poisoning them.  Acid rain also dissolves beneficial minerals and nutrients in the soil, which are then washed away before the plants and trees have a chance of using them in order to grow.  When there is frequent acid rain, it corrodes the waxy protective coating on the leaves, making the plant susceptible to disease.  When the leaves are damaged, the plant loses its ability to produce enough amounts of nutrition to stay healthy. Once the plant has become weak, it becomes vulnerable to cold weather, insects, and disease, which can lead to its death.

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Effects on Aquatic Life and Surface Waters

Acid rain also affects aquatic life and surface waters, by changing the pH level in bodies of water.  When there is a high amount of sulfuric acid, it interferes with a fish’s ability to take in nutrients, salt, and oxygen.  For freshwater fish, this acid affects their ability to maintain a balance between minerals and salts in their tissues, which the need to survive.  This acid also results in mucus forming in their gills, causing them to not get adequate amounts of oxygen.  This change in pH level impairs some of the fish’s ability to maintain their calcium levels, causes an imbalance of salt in their tissues, and impairs the reproduction ability of the fish.

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Effects on Man-made Objects

Acid rain affects man-made objects as well.  Acid rain dissolves sandstone, limestone, and marble.  It corrodes ceramic, textiles, paints, and metals.  Acid rain also makes rubber and leather deteriorate.  One of the most notable effects of acid rain is stone monument and carvings that have been exposed to it and have begun losing their original features.

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