Acid Rain: 10 quick facts on this catastrophic result of air pollution
Imagine what acid can do when it falls naturally over a large area of land, or animals or even human skin. Can you? It does seem painful and the effects are long-lasting. Here is what it can do to land, humans and animals.
What comes to your mind when you think of 'Acid'? The answer would probably be some dark-coloured boiling liquid that appears to melt everything it touches. We have grown up watching such images in cartoons as well. Whatever it is, we are pretty sure the imagination doesn't leave you with a happy feeling.
Imagine what acid can do when it falls naturally over a large area of land, or animals or even human skin. Can you? It does seem painful and the effects are long-lasting. The case we are talking about is 'acid rain'.
What is acid rain?
Acid rain is a mixture of wet and dry acidic components. Liquids with pH (measure of hydrogen ion concentration) less than 7 are acidic in nature. The more its hydrogen ion level, the more acidic it is in nature. Acidic rain was discovered in the year 1853 after a dead lake was discovered in Canada.
Here is what it can do to land, humans and animals:
- The sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide that creates acid rain can cause diseases such as cancer, asthma and heart disease
- Acid rain has many ecological effects. The worst effect it has is on lakes, streams, wetlands and other aquatic environments
- Acid rain can kill a whole forest
- It can destroy the leaves on the trees by cutting off their light and nutrient supply. It also change the acidity in the soil, making it impossible for trees and other plant life to grow
- Acid rain changes the pH of water and makes the water toxic to the fish and other aquatic animals
- As per reports, entire lakes have been declared dead because of acid rain
- Acid rain has the same approximate pH as vinegar
- Sulphur dioxide, the major contributor to acid rain, is the by-product of industrial products and is produced by burning fossil fuels
- Most acid rains occur due to human activities
- Stone buildings and monuments can also get damaged from acid rain.
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