Thursday, May 26, 2011

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.

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