Acid Rain

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Acid Rain
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Overview

• Over the past decade, acid rain has been
  transformed from a relatively unnoticed area of
  scientific inquiry into a major environmental
  issue of regional, national, and international
  concern.
• Acid Rain is rain with a pH less than or equal to
  5.
• The pH scale ranges from 1 (acid) to 14
  (alkaline), therefore 7 is neutral.
• Destruction is caused mainly from the reaction of
  the acidic rain and alkaline compounds such as
  marble.
• Thankfully, acid rain has decreased by an overall
  61.2 since 1990.

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Causes of Acid Rain

• Burning Fossil Fuels
• -Cars, Power Plants, etc.
• - Car emissions cause Nitrogen Dioxide
• -Burning coal causes Sulfur Dioxide
• When the fossil fuel emissions are released into
  the air, the reaction of atmospheric moisture and
  NO2 and/or SO2 creates Sulfuric acid and Nitric
  acid.
• More prominent in the Mid-West and areas of high
  population and industrial activity.
• The Prevailing Westerly winds cause the pollution
  from Southern parts to be carried to North
  Eastern regions.

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Effects of Acid Rain

• The acid rain destroys the waxy coating on tree
  leaves, making them vulnerable to weather changes
  and can eventually kill them.
• Without functioning plants the CO2 levels would
  increase.
• Acid rain takes away the nutrients of the soil
  and leaves aluminum, which stunts the growth of
  trees.
• Acid rain affects people who have asthma, making
  them have even more trouble breathing. Over time
  it can become cancerous.
• Aquatic life is affected by the acidic water, and
  minerals get into water from the ground.

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What You Can Do

• Its never too late to start a change to help
  decrease the causes of acid rain.
• Every person that changes their habits
  contributes to a nation-wide change.
• Everyone is capable of small, yet effective
  changes.
• There is a potential for a strong legislature to
  make a required change to all parts of America.

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Conserve Electricity

• Turning off appliances and electronics of your
  household is a quick and easy way to help reduce
  acid rain.
• -Reducing the amount of electricity used reduces
  the amount of electricity needed to be created by
  power plants.

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Reduce Driving

• Keeping driving to a minimum or car pooling
  reduces the amount of Nitrogen Monoxide released
  into the air.
• Alternative fuels such as E85 result in cleaner
  air!

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Save Paper

• Conserve paper.
• Sulfur Dioxide is a byproduct during the
  production of paper.
• Reusing paper is a good practice.

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Fossil Fuels

• Reduce the use of coal, wood, or natural gas for
  heat or energy.
• The use of fossil fuels is the root cause of acid
  rain.
• One main problem is that everyday life depends on
  fossil fuels.

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RECYCLE!

• Reusing materials means less manufacturing of new
  materials.
• Most items used everyday can be recycled such as

• Plastic
• Glass, steel, aluminum cans
• Paper
• Old refrigerators, heat pumps, and air
  conditioners
• Batteries
• Motor oil and tires
• Computer printers
• Compost
• And MORE!

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Sources
http//www.epa.gov/acidrain/ http//www.ehow.com/h
ow_2125851_prevent-acid-rain.html http//www.obvio
usly.com/recycle/guides/common.html http//www.pol
icyalmanac.org/environment/archive/acid_rain.shtml