ACID RAIN
Acid Rain Affects You!
In Acid rain the sulfates and nitrates that form in the atmosphere from sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions contribute to visibility impairment, meaning we cannot see as far or as clearly through the air. Sulfate particles account for 50 to 70 percent of the visibility reduction in the eastern part of the U.S.
Harms The Animals
Because of the connections between the many fish, plants, and other organisms living in an aquatic ecosystem, changes in aluminum levels affect life as well. Thus, as lakes and streams become more acidic, the numbers and types of fish and other aquatic plants and animals that live in these waters decrease.
Harms The Earth
It is more likely to weaken trees by damaging their leaves, limiting the nutrients available to them, or exposing them to toxic substances slowly released from the soil. Quite often, injury or death of trees is a result of these effects of acid rain in combination with one or more additional threats.Scientists believe that when leaves are frequently bathed in this acid fog, essential nutrients in their leaves and needles are stripped away. This loss of nutrients in their foliage makes trees more susceptible to damage by other environmental factors, particularly cold winter weather.
Stop Acid Rain
We can reduce Acid Rain by reducing the amount of fossil fuels we use for energy that produce harmful toxins that get into water. Another way to reduce acid rain is to clean exhaust pipes, less harmful smoking, etc.
Work Cited
"Effects of Acid Rain - Forests." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
Effects of Acid Rain - Human Health." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 06 Apr. 2015.
"Effects of Acid Rain - Surface Waters and Aquatic Animals." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
Effects of Acid Rain - Visibility." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.