The Problem of Acid Rain

The Problem of Acid Rain

WHAT CAUSES ACID RAIN

When power stations, factories, houses and cars release pollution into

the air it has chemicals in it called sulphur dioxide and nitrogen

oxides.

SULPHUR DIOXIDE:

Man-made sulphur dioxide comes mainly from burning fossils fuels in

power stations. It then mixes with water in the atmosphere to make

sulphuric acid, which will later fall as acid rain.

NITROGEN OXIDES:

Nitrogen oxides are also man-made and mainly come from car exhausts.

These gases also go into the atmosphere and mix with water to form

nitric acid, which once again falls as acid rain.

WHAT EFFECTS DOES ACID RAIN HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT ?

SOILS, TREES AND PLANTS.

Trees and plants need healthy soil to grow in. Acid rain can damage

these important soils by destroying many vital substances and washing

away the nutrients.

Soils naturally contain small amounts of poisonous minerals such as

mercury and aluminium. Normally these minerals do not cause serious

problems, but when acid rain falls on the ground and soil and the

acidity of the soil increases, chemical reactions occur allowing the

poisonous minerals to be taken up by the plant roots. The trees and

plants are then damaged and any animals eating them will absorb the

poisons, which will stay in their bodies. Damage to the soil is one of

the most serious effects of acid rain.

TREES

Acid rain and other pollutants can have harmful effects on forests and

many areas of the world have reported that their forests are dying.

The acid takes important minerals away from the leaves and the soil.

Without these minerals, trees and plants cannot grow pro...

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...every 2 to 5 years and it is expensive.

Liming will not solve the problem of acid rain, to do that we must cut

down on the amount of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that are

produced.

Power stations can be fitted with special equipment which reduces the

amount of pollutants given off when fuel is burned. If we used

electricity more carefully, we would not have to make so much, so

there would be less pollution.

Pollution from cars can be reduced by fitting the exhaust with a

special filter called a catalytic converter. Reducing the amount of

car journeys made and travelling by bus, train or bike instead can

also help to stop air pollution.

Acid rain is caused by burning coal, oil, petrol and gas. It would be

better to change to types of energy that do not cause acid rain, like

sun, wind and wave power.