Acid Rain

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorHigh School, 12th grade July 2001

download word file, 8 pages 3.0

Downloaded 21 times

For years, plant earth has been experiencing many stages of growth and development. Growth population, for one is increasing at a rapid rate. Industrialization has pervaded the world, and technological innovations seem to be more rampant with everyday that passes; these are only three of the many causes of environmental pollution. Air pollution is the presence in the atmosphere of substances that are toxic, irritant, or otherwise harmful to men (or women) or damaging to plant life, animals, or property.

At this point in time plant earth is being subject to many pollutants such as emissions from vehicles and factories, toxic waste caused from industrialization, and the utter disregard by people for the environment- cigarettes, hair spray, nail polish, cleaners, etc. All these pollutants have created countless problems for the environment. This is evident with the presence of smog, the depletion of the ozone, and the warming of the globe.

One of the most flagrant aftermaths of pollution is acid rain. Acid Rain has become a global problem that has created a severe threat to plant Earth. Destruction to the ecosystem, detriments to one's personal health, and the defoliation of architecture are the three primary effects of acid rain.

Acid rain in simple terms can be defined as rain that has become much more acidic than natural rainwater, sometimes becoming as acidic as vinegar. Generally, the acidification of rain occurs when natural rainwater mixes with air pollution. Sulfur and nitric dioxide are the leading pollutants to blame for acid rain. Both oxides are chemically bonded elements with low pH levels. Sulfur dioxide is gas that is emitted from volcanoes, rotting vegetation, and the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. Nitric dioxide is a gas released mainly from power stations and a vehicle's exhaust. When these two gases...