The Truth About Acid Rain

Many people think that acid rain is one of
those environmental issues whose dangers
are exaggerated by the news media. It may
affect a few trees, the thinking goes, but
it can't really hurt people. The fact is that
much still remains unknown about acid
rain, but this much is for sure: it is a
serious threat to the environment, and
there is evidence that it can directly
endanger human health.
The problem is not invisible, either. The
next time you visit one of our national
parks to enjoy the vistas, your view may
be tainted somewhat by damaged trees
and a haze of acidic particles in the air.
Scientists say that acid rain - any form of
precipitation, including snow and fog,
that contains some amount of sulfuric and
nitric acids - wreaks havoc on the
environment. It strips the soil of vital
nutrients that support the growth of
vegetation and contaminates thousands of
American waterways and lakes. This
results in forest damage and the
decimation of many aquatic species.
Could acid rain ruin your garden? Not
likely. Environmentalists conclude that
most cultivated plants can tolerate
changes in acidity if they are fertilized
with basic nutrients.
What causes acid rain? According to many
scientific studies, it begins with air
pollution generated from industrial
processes such as pulp and paper,
smelting, and natural gas plants, as well
as the burning of fossil fuels by power
plants, factories, and automobiles. Sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are released
into the air, where they react with
sunlight, water, and oxygen to form acids
and salts. As "normal" rain falls through
the atmosphere, it mixes with these
pollutants and turns into acid rain.
Records show that acid rain accounts for
about half of the "acid deposition" that
falls to Earth. The rest is dry acid
deposition, which is comprised of gases
and solid particles. Since both forms of
acid deposition are easily blown by the
wind over long distances, they can cause
damage to the environment far from their
original source.
Is acid rain harmful to humans? Studies
report that the acidic particles that make
up dry acid deposition can exacerbate such
respiratory conditions as asthma and
bronchitis. Higher levels of these particles
in the air are also associated with
increased rates of respiratory illness and
death.
Acid rain is unlikely to taint your city tap
water by seeping into groundwater and
corroding pipes. However, the quality of
well water in some rural areas has been
adversely affected by acid rain deposition.
It is a good idea to have a private lab test
your well water for potability.
Structures made of galvanized steel,
copper, marble, limestone, sandstone, and
granite can be gradually eaten away by
acid rain. The damage is seen on the
exteriors of buildings, statues, and bridges
- even on such beloved monuments as the
Parthenon in Greece and the Taj Mahal in
India