Acid Rain: The Problem Continues

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Acid Rain The Problem Continues
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What Ever Happened to Acid Rain?

• In the 1980s, acid rain received a lot of media
  attention.
• Although we dont hear about acid rain as much
  these days, it is still a problem that deserves
  our attention.
• Fortunately, acid rain is a problem that we can
  all help to solve.

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What is Acid Rain? How Does it Form?

• Acid rain includes both wet and dry acidic
  deposits
• Precipitation with a pH lower than 5.6 is
  considered acidic
• Acid rain originates from sulfur dioxide and
  nitrogen oxide particles
• Once these particles are emitted into the air
  they form sulfate and nitrate particles
• These particles can travel long distances on wind
  currents
• By combining with water vapor, these particles
  form acids which fall to the earth as acid rain.

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Where do Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Oxide
(NOx) Particles Come From?

• Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide particles are
  emitted from utility plants, especially coal-fed
  electric plants
• Automobiles also emit acid rain causing pollution

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How Does Acid Rain Effect Our Lives?

• Poor forest health due to acidification of soil
  acid rain can kill nutrient-producing
  microorganisms
• Acidification of lakes and streams can lead to
  the death of aquatic life, such as trout and bass
• Acidity can leach mercury out of the soil,
  causing toxic levels to build up in the fish we
  eat
• Acid rain can erode buildings and monuments and
  destroy paint finishes

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What else needs to be done about Acid Rain ?

• In 1990, an amendment to the Clean Air Act called
  for reductions in sulfur emissions
• This proved to be less effective than hoped, as
  acid rain still persists today
• This is largely due to 2 reasons
• 1) reductions in sulfur emissions were not great
  enough and
• 2) there were no reductions in nitrogen emissions
  which are also implicated in forming acid rain

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What is Being Done About Acid Rain?

• Presently, the New England Governors and eastern
  Canadian Premieres are working together on a
  solution
• An International Acid Rain Steering Committee was
  formed and is currently discussing joint action
  to further reduce sulfur emissions by 50 and
  reduce nitrogen emissions by 30 by the year 2010

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Can We Do Anything About Acid Rain?

• YES! We can all take small actions to help solve
  the problem
• We can help by
• using our cars less
• conserving electricity
• choosing electricity providers that emit lower
  amounts of air pollution emissions