Acid Rain
by: Tessa Nicolosi
Questions
What is the major cause of acid rain? air pollution from burning of fossil fuels
What chemicals are involved? sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen (NOx).
What affect does it have on people? Acid rain doesn’t harm people directly, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen (NOx) are the things that mainly cause harm, these chemicals cause increased illness and premature death from heart and lung disorders, such as asthma and bronchitis.
on animals? the proportion of birds laying defective eggs rose from roughly 10% in 1983-84 to 40% by 1987-88 due to acid rain. Fish cannot survive in a acidic water environment so it has cause i decrease in fish and other aquatic life forms living in acidic water.
What affect does it have on some nonliving objects? It decays away at paint or a buildings material. It causes the environment to be poison.
What affect does it have on water supplies? acid rain has led to the loss of fish in acid sensitive lakes and streams. Many species of fish are not able to survive in acidic water. Acid rain affects lakes and streams in two ways: chronic and episodic. Chronic, or long-term acidification results form years of acidic rainfall. It reduces the alkalinity (buffering capacity) and increases the acidity of the water. Chronic acidification may reduce the levels of nutrients such as calcium, which, over time, may weaken the fish and other plants and animals in an aquatic ecosystem.
Where is it a large problem? most of eastern Europe from Poland northward into Scandinavia, the eastern third of the United States, and southeastern Canada. Other affected areas include the southeastern coast of China and Taiwan.
Ways to prevent it? Conserve energy in your home, office and car.
Purchase clean electric power.