Air Pollution Essay, Research Paper

Acid rain is a problem that has plagued earth for years. It is poisoning our

waters, animals, plants, soil, and more. It is a problem that can not be ignored

or it might have catastrophic results on our environment. Acid rain is caused by

air pollution, which is due to man-made actions. Scientists have discovered that

air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels is the major cause of acid rain.

Power plants and factories burn coal and oil, which is used to produce the

electricity we need to heat and light our homes and to run our electric

appliances. We also burn natural gas, coal, and oil to heat our homes, and our

cars, trucks, boats, and airplanes use gasoline to run, which is another fossil

fuel. The smoke and fumes from burning fossil fuels rise into the atmosphere and

combine with the moisture in the air to form acid rain. The main chemicals in

air pollution that create acid rain are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Acid

rain usually forms high in the clouds where sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides

react with water, oxygen, and oxidants. This forms a mild solution of sulfuric

acid and nitric acid. Sunlight then increases the rate of these reactions.

Rainwater, snow, fog, and other forms of precipitation containing those mild

solutions of sulfuric and nitric acids fall to the earth as acid rain. Acid rain

is a much more complex problem then most people realize. Acid rain does not only

drop dangerously high levels of acid into the ground directly affecting wildlife

but it also mixes with other elements and compounds in the earth which then

become harmful to the environment. For example aluminum is one of the most

common metals on earth. It is stored in a combined form with other elements in

the earth. When it is combined it cannot dissolve into the water and soil and

harm the fish and plants. However the acid from acid rain can easily dissolve

the bond between these elements. The Aluminum is then dissolved into a more

soluble state by the acid. Other metals such as copper and iron are similarly

affected however it is the aluminum that is the most common. In this form it is

easily absorbed into the water. When it comes in contact with fish it causes

irritation to the gills. This irritation in turn causes fish to create a film of

mucus in the gills to stop this irritation until the irritant is gone. However

the aluminum does not go always and the fish continues to build up more and more

mucus to counteract it. Eventually there is so much mucus that it clogs the

gills. When this occurs, the fish can no longer breath. It dies and then sinks

to the bottom of the lake. Scientist predict that acid rain is one of the

leading causes the possible extinction of fish. This does not only affect the

fish in the water, it affects everything including humans. These lakes and

streams are not just homes for aqualife but they are our sources of water too.

Another very large problem is the effect of acid rain on trees. When a tree?s

roots absorb water from the ground it is taking in its source of life, and when

acid rain rains around that tree, its life source is poisoned. Tree?s leaves

and needles begin to drop off, and seedlings fail to produce new trees. The acid

also reacts with many nutrients the trees need, such as calcium, magnesium and

potassium. This starves the trees, and they become much more susceptible to

other forms of damage, such as being blown down, or breaking under the weight of

snow. Also forests in high mountain regions receive additional acid from the

acidic clouds and fog that often surround them. These clouds and fog are often

more acidic than rainfall. When leaves are frequently bathed in this acid fog,

their protective waxy coating can wear away. The loss of the coating damages the

leaves and creates brown spots. When the leaves are damaged, they cannot produce

enough food energy for the tree to remain healthy. Acid rain does not only

poison our drinking water, but it is very corrosive. Acid rain is known to

contribute to the corrosion of metals and deterioration of stone and paint in

buildings, statues, and other structures of cultural significance. Human-made

materials gradually deteriorate even when exposed unpolluted rain, but acid rain

accelerates the process. For example, the Capitol building in Ottawa has been

disintegrating because of excess sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere. Limestone and

marble turn to a crumbling substance called gypsum upon contact with the acid,

which explains the corrosion of buildings and statues. In addition, bridges are

corroding at a faster rate, and the railway industries as well as the airplane

industry have had to put more money in repairing the corrosive damage done by

acid rain. Not only is this an economically taxing problem caused by acid rain,

but also a safety hazard to the general public. In 1967 the bridge over the Ohio

River collapsed killing 46 people, the reason was corrosion due to acid rain.

Dry deposition of acidic compounds can also dirty buildings and other

structures, leading to increased maintenance costs. Also, there is growing

concern about the potential health risks associated with acid rain. Recent

reports suggest, for example, that downwind derivatives of sulfur dioxide, known

as acid aerosols, may pose serious health threats throughout the eastern United

States. Inhalation of acid aerosols may lead to bronchitis in children and

decreased lung function in adults, particularly asthmatics. Controlling acid

rain will play an important role in reducing these risks. In Europe there have

already been several birth defects that have been. So what is being done to fix

our problem with acid rain? The EPA or Environmental Protection Agency in 1990

had a clean air law passed. This law is a program designed to significantly

reduce acid rain. The overall goal of the ARP (Acid Rain Program) is to achieve

significant environmental and public health benefits through reductions in

emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), the primary causes

of acid rain. The program encourages energy efficiency and pollution prevention.

The Acid Rain Program began with the reduction of SO2 emissions by 10 million

tons below the 1980 levels. To achieve these reductions, the law requires a

two-phase tightening of the restrictions placed on fossil fuel-fired power

plants. Phase 1 began in 1995 and has had very positive results. Phase 2 is

scheduled to start in the year 2000. The Acid Rain Program?s other half was

the reduction of NOX. Program focuses on one set of sources that emit NOX,

coal-fired electric utility boilers, the same as the SO2 program. Similar to the

SO2 emission reduction requirements, the NOX program is implemented in two

phases, beginning in 1996 and 2000. This program puts very strict limitations on

these boilers. The problem of acid rain can not only be fixed by putting

limitations on these huge boilers, this just slows down the process of the

destruction acid rain does. The only way to stop burning these electric utility

burners is to find a way to replace them. That is why scientists the world over

have been looking for alternative sources of power. There are other sources of

energy besides fossil fuels. These include hydroelectric power and nuclear

power. Dams use the power of water to turn turbines and make electricity. People

have been using this form of energy for most of this century. Nuclear power

plants make electricity from the energy released by splitting atoms. A small

amount of nuclear fuel can make a very large amount of electricity. There are

problems with using hydroelectric and nuclear power. Hydroelectric plants

require a constant source of water. Since rainfall is not always predictable,

hydroelectric plants are not as reliable as those using coal or oil are.

Hydroelectric plants can also harm the environment. Thousands of acres of land

often have to be flooded to create a reservoir, a holding place for the great

amounts of water needed to power these plants. Sometimes the land that would be

flooded is home to rare types of plants or animals. Nuclear power plants produce

electricity cheaply. But the nuclear waste they leave remains dangerous for

thousands of years. Scientists are looking at other energy sources, such as

windmills and solar energy, using the power of the sun itself. In several

states, there are modern windmills like airplane propellers that make energy

from the wind. In other places, wind power pumps water from the ground. In

Arizona and New Mexico, solar energy is at work making electric power. Each of

these sources has drawbacks as well. Windmills and solar panels are reliable

only where it is windy or sunny most of the time. All sources of energy have

benefits and limitations, including the cost of producing the energy. All of

these factors must be weighed when deciding which energy source to use. Thus, it

is seen that the rectification of the very pressing issue of acid rain should be

one of Mankind?s greatest goals. There are too many possible solutions and

alternatives to endanger the world with this dangerous risk to humanity?s

environment, buildings and accomplishments, and water supply. Through even more

litigation and law enforcement, and the many other alternative solutions, the

Earth can be saved from this severe threat.