Acid Rain Essay, Research Paper

The damaging effects of acid rain on society is becoming overwhelmed with great

amounts of pollution from cars, factories and an large amounts of garbage. The

immense amounts of sulphur dioxide put into the air causes high levels of acid

in the atmosphere. When this sulphuric acid is absorbed into moisture in the

air, then rain can be harmful to the environment. Acid rain is destroying lots

of things in our environment. It is hurting lakes, air and thew rest of our

ecosystem. Acid rain is killing lakes and decreasing the number of animals in

these lakes. Acid rain greatly lowers the amounts of pH in the water. Each

decade the pH levels of lakes around Ontario have become ten times more acidic.

The high acid levels contained in lakes also causes a decrease in the number of

fish living in these lakes. Also the high amounts of acid in the water can lead

to fish being deformed. They have messed up and out of shape backbones,

flattened heads and strangely curved tails. When there gets to be a lot of acid

in the water, then there is barely anything left besides rock bass, pumpkinseed

and lake herring. As with sulphur dioxide in rain, mercury is also discharged

into the water. There is a direct connection between the mercury rich lakes as

there is with those with high acidic levels. This metal becomes concentrated in

the blood and tissues of fish. Acid rain causes traumatic effects in natural

lakes and rivers. Acid rain causes air quality to deteriorate. As in water, acid

rain causes the pH levels in the air to decrease. The sulphur dioxide, which

diffuses into the air, mixes with moisture causing the pH levels to drop from

the normal level. Again, the normal level is somewhere around seven, yet in some

acidic air masses the levels can be as low as three. These lowered pH levels

form a photochemical smog in the atmosphere. In the air Anitrogen oxides react

with ozone and some hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight to form

photochemical smog, the kind of yellow-grey haze which it literally alive and

growing in stagnant air masses@ (Howard & Perley, 1980, p. 44). This smog

carries serious risk for respiratory disease and crop damage. The photochemical

smog is also causing the ozone layer to disintegrate. The ozone layer is

becoming a part of this smog, which is causing holes in it. An inordinate amount

of sulphur dioxide is let into the air, more than can be neutralized by

nutrients in the air. Decrease in pH levels, photochemical smog and depletion of

the ozone layer are some effects of acid rain in the air. The ecosystem is

slowly eroding due to the increased amounts of acid in the soil. Acid in the

soil in causing the carbon dioxide respiration process to decelerate. In order

for plants to go through photosynthesis, they need carbon dioxide. When acid in

the soil causing this soil respiration to slow down, in turn it causes the

photosynthesis process to slow down. The soil also erodes when the pH levels

drop. The acidic levels of the soil cause nutrients in the soils such as

aluminum to break apart and the soil to erode. Soil erosion also causes a lower

production of plants in the ecosystem. In the soil a process of decay Acalled

oligotrophication, means that fewer of the ions of acid are neutralized by the

depleted biological community so the acid can cause further degeneration of

natural processes, which in turn are less capable of combating the acid, and so

on, in an accelerating process@ (Howard & Perley, 1980, p. 32). Disruption

in the life span of trees and plants is also another effect of acid rain. The

acid rain corrodes the thin, waxy layer, which coats and protects the leaves

letting the acid suffocate the leaves. This can cause an interference in the

plants metabolism and photosynthesis may be altered meaning the leaves cannot

produce and efficient amount of food which may result in death of the plant.

Acid may obtrude fertilization , stunt or kill the growth of seeds and make them

sterile. A second generation would be in danger of not being produced causing

deforestation. Naturally the reduction of plants is causing the biological food

chain to weaken. As smaller animals and insects feed on these plants lose their

food supply, they may also ensue death. In effect the animals which feed off of

these animals also ensue a decrease in their supply. In turn humans may become

starved if the acid rain effects increase. Acid rain causes death of soil,

plants and animals, effecting the ecosystem. Acid rain is becoming a major

problem in our environment today. It is killing our fresh water lakes and it=s

occupants. Also the quality of air is depleting, increasing the amount of smog

and pollution in our atmosphere. Once the acid is absorbed in the soil, this

puts the ecosystem in jeopardy of extinction. This is killing plants, animal,

and soil, which is the basis of our existence. If this acid rain problem is not

dealt with urgently, the natural world may in hazard of demise.