In an article by “Global Warming Awareness 2007” “acid rain was first reported in Manchester, England. In 1852, Robert Angus Smith found the relationship between acid rain and atmospheric pollution.” The term “acid rain” was first used by him in 1872. “Although acid rain was discovered in 1852, it was not until the late 1960s that scientists began widely observing and studying the phenomenon (2).”
Contamination begins with the development of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the burning of fossil fuels. Big power plants burn large quantities of coal, so they release large amounts of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (Hart 1). Once these chemicals combine with the moisture in the air, acid rain is produced. The acid rain that has received the most attention is caused by coal burning power plants, but cars, oil burning, forest fires and natural causes such as volcanic eruptions are also major factors. As stated in “Clean Air Act Reduces Acid rain in Eastern United States” approximately 30 percent of nitrogen oxides are from power plants another 30 percent is caused by automobiles, 25-30 percent is caused by agriculture and the rest are from natural occurrences. All living things, whether they are plants or animals, whether they live on land or in the water or even in trees, are affected by acid rain. John Watson points out that “the greatest acidity levels are located in the Northeastern United States.” Watson also claims that this is caused by the large number of cities, population and the number of power and industrial plants located in the Northeast(1). The acid rain not only affects the United States, it can be carried overseas by wind and storms.
In an article titled “Acid Rain” from thinkquest.org the acidity in rain is measured by collecting samples of rain and measuring the pH levels. All rainwater has some level of acid; the acid is measured by the pH (potential of hydrogen). Normal rainwater has a pH balance of around 5.6. If the pH goes below 4.5 there is a chance that all fish in the lakes, streams or rivers could die. Some aquatic animals are able to tolerate acidic waters, others, however, acid sensitive and will be lost if the pH declines. So, as pH in a lake or stream decreases, aluminum levels increase. Both a low pH and increased levels of aluminum are directly toxic to fish (1). When acid rain occurs it causes harmful elements like mercury and aluminum to be leaked from the soil and rocks, then it is carried into the streams, rivers and lakes where aquatic life can be affected. Fish can be poisoned by mercury and then could die. When the fish die, the main source of food for birds is gone and it also reduces the amount of food for humans who depend on fish as a food source. The reproduction of the fish can be affected when fish lay their eggs; if the eggs come in contact with the acid an entire generation can be destroyed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states “it can lead to lower body weight and makes fish less able to compete for food and habitat (1).”
Acid rain affects human life in various ways. World Almanac & Book of Facts says “air pollution is a major threat to health and the environment (176).” Everything that we eat, drink and breath has at one time came in contact with acid rain deposits. According to the majority of government and other scientists, the past few years have brought evidence that pollution at current permitted levels is sickening and killing thousands of people and that many of the deaths can be prevented with minor adjustments to present standards. In the article title “Acid Rain” the following health problems occur each year in the United States and Canada due to acid rain: 550 premature deaths, 1,520 emergency room visits and 210,070 asthma symptoms(1). Monika Bauerlein in a article titled “Every Breath you Take”, an estimated 300,000 babies are born each year with dangerous levels of toxic mercury, which is linked to learning disabilities and lower IQs(3). Some levels of air pollution can also be life-threatening. Air pollution has recently been linked to other ailments in people that we never considered were caused by the environment, like diabetes, heart disease and even Parkinson’s. People that live in California and other highly populated states are introduced to acid rain every day, because of smog.
The Fisk Plant in Chicago pumps out about 4,300 tons of sulfur dioxide and more than 2,300 tons of nitrogen oxides, both which contribute to acid rain. Fisk Plant is one of the six coal fired plants around Chicago that since 1999 have racked up more than 7,600 opacity violation; there are too many fine-dust particles in the smoke emitting from the stacks. Yet none of the plants, according to an investigation by the Illinois Attorney General, has received a single citation. As a result, the people that live in Chicago are exposed to levels of air pollution that was supposed to be out-lawed more than three and a half decades ago. These are levels that are known to be life threatening. In 2000, researchers from Harvard estimated that the Fisk plant and five other coal fired plants, plus three somewhere else in Illinois caused 300 deaths and 14,000 asthma attacks each year. If the plants would have followed the guidelines given by the Clean Air Act, two-thirds of those deaths and asthma attacks could have been prevented. For example, 30,000 people die each year from power plant exposer alone. That is twice as many killed by drunk drivers and fifty percent more than those who were murdered (Bauerlein 57-58).
Manmade structures are expected to deteriate over time, but when these structures are exposed to acid rain, deterioration can happen much quicker. In John Watson s article “How does acid precipitation affect marble and limestone buildings?” acid rain affects stone primarily in two ways: dissolution and alteration(1). This includes buildings, statues and other structures that contain stone, metal or other material when exposed to the weather for a long period of time. In exposed areas we see rough edges, removal of the material and a loss of the carved details. Think about all the historical buildings in our country, how about all the monuments and statues that have been constructed, over time, these to can become deteriorated. Have you ever walked through an old cemetery and noticed how the tombstones look “aged?” It can cost billions of dollars to repair a structure, unfortunately some unique structures may never be able to be repaired or replaced. Scientist are examining the process of deterioration and trying to find a way to protect and repair buildings and structures, but this will take time and money. “Only memories last forever.”
Although we cannot control the production of acid rain caused by nature, like volcanoes, acid rain is still a big problem in our environment, but majority of the causes are controllable. There are many ways that humans can help reduce the effects of acid rain. We can use alternative sources of energy; we can use nuclear power, wind energy, solar energy and hydropower, just to name a few. All energy sources have environmental cost as well as benefit. Some sources of energy are more expensive than others, which mean that not all Americans can afford them. People can start to carpool, walk more and take the bus or train for longer trips. At home only use the dishwasher or washer when you have a full load. Turn off computers and appliances when not in use and use energy efficient appliances (ones with the EPA Energy Star Program) turn you lights off in empty rooms, insulate your home as best as you can and turn down the heat at night. Try to do the three R’s reduce, reuse and recycle as often as possible. In a article written by Bob Downing at the “Akron Beacon Journal” one way companies that are burning coal for power can help is by washing the coal before they burn it or installing devises called “scrubbers” to chemically remove the SO2 gases that leave the smokestack . The W.H. Sammis Power Plant did just that. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates states “the Sammis scrubbers will reduce sulfur dioxide by 95% and nitrogen oxide control, to be installed by 2012, will cut that type of emission by 90%.” Installing the anti-pollution equipment will enable the Sammis plant to comply with stricter clean-air requirements under new federal Clean Air Interstate and Clean Air Mercury rules. Power plants can also install different types of anti-pollution equipment in their factories. Although, normal people can help change the affects of acid rain at no financial cost to them, are more companies like Sammis Power Plant willing to put out the expense of buying the new technology, take the steps to reduce the way they burn fossil fuels and follow the government guidelines.
The Clean Air Act was created in 1963 and the Air Quality Act was created in 1967. There were extensions on both of these acts in the 60’s and 70’s, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “Clean Air Act”, it was not until 1990 that the United States proposed an amendment that pertained to the acid rain effects in our environment. This amendment has a marketbased system that is designed to lower the sulfur dioxide pollution levels. The government is hoping that this should lower the levels by around 40 percent. The EPA also set allowances on some power plants, those power plants are only allowed to release that amount of sulfur dioxide, if they need to burn more than that set allowance, they have to get the EPA to allow a higher allowance or they can buy some from another power plant. If power plants are installing equipment that is reducing the sulfur dioxide, then they would get a higher allowance. The EPA also required that nitrogen oxide releases from new cars be reduced.
According to Kevin Krajick of Science acid –causing substances have built up in the ground and are still causing cascading chemical effects that could continue for decades (1). In conclusion, we have taken advantage of our atmosphere for many years; acid rain does have a large impact on our environment. When these acids fall back to earth, it not only causes problems for the environment but also, human life, aquatic life and manmade structures. Government agencies need to invest money in finding alternate ways to burn fossil fuels, enforce utilization windmills and solar power. The Government has passed laws to help reduce emissions of these acids, but unless people start working together and companies start following standards, we will eventually destroy ourselves.
“Acid Rain.” thinkquest.org 19 Dec. 2001
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215471/acid_rain.htm
“Air pollution.” World Almanac & Book of Facts. 2005: p 176-176. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost.
Bauerlein, Monika. “Every Breath You Take.” Sierra Jul/Aug 2006: p56-78 Vol. 91 Issue 4. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost.
“Clean Air Act Reduces Acid rain in Eastern United States.” Science Daily. 28 Sep. 1998
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/09/980928072644.htm.
Downing, Bob. “It takes a huge smokestack to clean up the nation’s air.” Akron Beacon Journal 10 Oct. 2007. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost.
Global Warming Awareness 2007. Acid Rain. 5 Feb. 2007
Hart, John. “Acid Rain”
http://encarta.msn.com/acidrain.html
Krajick, Kevin “Long-term data show lingering effects from acid rain.” Science 13 Apr. 2001: Vol. 292. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Clean Air Act. 2 May 2007
http://epa.gov/air/caa
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Effects of Acid Rain-Surface Waters and Aquatic Animals. 8 Jun. 2007
