Introduction
According to Lane (2003), Acid precipitation commonly known as acid rain refers to any type of precipitation that contains acidic components like nitric or sulphuric acid, falling on the ground in wet or dry forms such as rain, fog, hail, dust or snow. It forms when sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and Nitrogen Oxide (NO X ) enter the atmosphere. , and when they come in contact with water and other substances, they form sulfuric and nitric acids respectively and fall to the ground as acid rain. The human sources of (SO 2 ) & (NO X ) include the burning of fossil fuels from electric power generators, industries as well as vehicles and heavy equipment. Natural sources include volcanoes. Acid precipitation is a point source pollutant because the sources of (SO 2 ) & (NO X ) which cause it can be identified, unlike nonpoint source pollutants which result from rain and snowmelt runoff carrying different pollutants into waterways.
Harmful Impacts of Acid Precipitation
Lane (2003) concurs that Acid rain is detrimental to the ecosystem as well as humans. The ecosystem consists of plants, animals, other organisms and the environment in which they live in. It leads to the release of Aluminum which lowers the PH level in the aquatic ecosystems, leading to deaths of fish and wildlife. Under this condition, it may also be difficult for eggs to hatch. It removes the nutrients and minerals that are essential for plant growth thus leading to dead plants and trees. It also leads to nitrogen pollution which kills fish and shellfish in the coastal waters. Lefohn and Brocksen (2012) point out that a cid rain is not harmful to humans, but SO 2 and NO X in the atmosphere are, as they react to form Sulphate and Nitrate particles that can be inhaled to cause lung and heart diseases.
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Measures to Control Acid Precipitation
Lane (2003) adds that the impacts of acid rain are numerous and regulations and technologies are in place to reduce it. For example, the United States Environmental Agency (EPA) established the Acid Rain Program under the direction of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. This program ensures that power plants generating electricity cannot exceed certain levels of emission of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere by issuing allowances for such emissions and putting a limit on them. Scientists have also devised new ways of reducing pollution caused by sulfur dioxide emitted from coal-burning power plants through the use of coal with less sulfur and washing the coal to remove sulfur. The use of wind power and solar energy as alternative energy sources to fossil fuels also reduces acid rain. A catalytic converter is an equipment that can be used on cars to help reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide released into the atmosphere.
The effectiveness of measures to reduce acid rain
So far, the programs have contributed a great deal in reducing the emission of these gases into the atmosphere. For instance, the catalytic converter has been used for over twenty years. However, a lot needs to be done to ensure that there is a success in the elimination of acid rain because this form of pollution is still a problem. Much still needs to be done especially regarding regulations. For example, the Clean Water Act could be strengthened to ensure that laws are not circumvented ( Singh & Agrawal, 2008) . The Act could be strengthened through better monitoring and enforcement by States, more funding for relevant programs and allowing citizens to bring lawsuits against water pollution among others ( Lefohn & Brocksen, 2012).
Conclusion
Acid precipitation is a form of water pollution that results from the reaction of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide with water and other elements. It leads to harmful effects to the ecosystem including deaths of animal and plant lives. There are various measures established to reduce the pollution, but there is still a lot to be done for success mainly through the strengthening of relevant regulations.
References
Lane, C. N. (2003). Acid rain: Overview and abstracts (6 th ed.). New York: Nova Science Publ.
Lefohn, A. S & Brocksen, R. W. (2012). Acid Rain Effects Research -A Status Report. Journal of Air Pollution Control Association, 34(10), 1005-1013. https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1984.10465847
Singh, A & Agrawal, M. (2008). Acid rain and its ecological consequences. Journal of Environmental Biology, 29(1), 15-24. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/e8f3/fa4f3badf2fa98e0a434266aaa3d7c796f98.pdf
