The Effects of Acid Rain

Generally, it is a deposition of either wet or dry substances that are acidic. It may occur in the form of rain, sleet, cloud water, snow or dew. However, unlike normal precipitation, this rain is acidic and contains harmful elements. It has low pH levels and is threatening the health of all life forms as well as other infrastructures. Acid rain can corrode steel structures like bridges, peel paints from roofs and walls, and can ruin statues that are made of stone. What’s worse is that it affects the health of all life forms, including the humans.

Substances like nitrogen, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide react with water molecules that are present in the atmosphere. Thus, it will create acids. Under normal conditions, these substances are present in nature. Nitrogen oxides are produced from strikes of lightning; while volcanic eruptions produce sulfur dioxide.

However, acid rain is also caused by various human activities. Actually, humans are responsible for all environmental issues like acid rain. Generating electricity, vehicular activities and even factories play major roles in the production of acid rain on this planet. In fact, power plants that burn coal substances are threatening the environment; and they are the greater causes of pollution. In addition, fuel combustion creates chemicals that can be converted into acidic substances like nitric and sulfuric acids.

Acid has its harmful effects to the environment and to your health. This harmful rain is threatening the lives of plants, earth's animals, humans and other infrastructures. Consider these effects of acid rain:

• Water

Low pH levels and high levels of aluminum which are present in the waters will harm the fishes and other aquatic resources. Insufficient pH levels will affect the mortality rates of fishes; eggs will not hatch and adult fishes will die. In addition, water acidity will affect biodiversity in nature. As a result, it will have an impact on other animals like insects, frogs, etc.

• Soil

Acid rain imposes a threat to the soil’s quality. Microbes are affected with the shifts in pH levels. Their enzymes will be altered and it will shift its shape and functions. Acid rain will further harm essential soil microbes and will ruin the quality of the soil. As a result, plants will suffer as well as other life forms

• Human health

Although acid rain will not affect human health directly, it has some harmful effects. Of course, environmental issues have their life-threatening effects. Thus, acid rain can trigger various medical conditions such as bronchitis and asthma.

• Infrastructure

Acid rain will not only affect life forms but also the non-living things like stone statues, bridges and buildings. Stones, such as marbles and lime, will flake off. Furthermore, metals such as steel, iron, bronze and copper will corrode.

These are the facts about acid rain. Thus, environmental issues like acid rain must be addressed seriously now and in the future to come.