PH is the degree of the negative log of hydrogen ion concentration in moles per liter. Simply, it is the level of acidity or alkalinity in a substance measured on a scale of 0 to 14 with 7 being the neutral point. A lower value than 7 represents acidity while a higher value above 7 represents alkalinity. Environmental pH, on the other hand, refers to the level of acidy or alkalinity in a given area of the environment. The pH of any environment is critical because different living organism thrives under specific pH concentration. Therefore, a variation in the pH is likely to affect some aspects of the environment (Pommerening-Röser & Koops, 2005) . This paper discusses the environmental effects of toxic solutions by looking at the three major sources of pH modifies in the environment and their impact.
Some of the most known toxic solutions known to affect the environment include; sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide. These compounds readily react with water in the environment forming toxic solutions that are easily propagated in the various parts of the environment. For instance, Sulfur dioxide is a major environmental pH modifier that mainly enters the environment from the combustion of fossil fuel, most industrial application, automobile, and ships, burn fossil fuel for energy production. As such, it leads to built-up in the atmosphere. However, the gas has many negative effects. Due to the high solubility, sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen and water to form a weak dibasic acid called sulfurous acid and sulfuric a critical ingredients for acid rain. It has been noted that the solution results in a rain of pH less than 5. When the rainwater enters the soil, it reacts with other chemicals in the soil and modifies its pH hence destabilizing the life of microorganism since they are sensitive to soil pH (Pommerening-Röser & Koops, 2005) . In addition to reaction with the soil, acidic rain falling on building result in corrosion of paint hence a higher expense of maintaining their aesthetic value. Lastly, the solution formed has an adverse effect on the human's respiratory system and is known to worsen asthmatic attacks in patients.
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Nitrogen oxide is another gas responsible for the formation of a toxic solution in the environment. Furthermore, it is a pH modifier of the environment. Like sulfur dioxide, its presence in the environment is mostly contributed by human activities that include, burning of fossil fuel used in automobile, ships, and plants. Similarly, it is soluble in water and readily reacts with water, and oxygen to form an acidic solution that forms nitric acid another crucial ingredient for the formation of acidic rain. The formed solution reacts with the soil lowering its pH and compromises the life of pH-sensitive microorganism. Consequently, the rains contact with paint on buildings, sculpture surfaces, and roofing material result in corrosion increasing their maintenance cost. When runoff drains into water bodies, the prolonged mixing of water between the toxic solution and the water bodies modifies the pH to outside the normal range of between 6.5 and 9 killing fish and other organisms in the water body ("pH of Water - Environmental Measurement Systems," 2018). In addition to affecting living organisms low ph level in water bodies encourage the solubility of heavy metals such as , copper, lead, aluminum, and cadmium. Lastly, inhalation of the toxic solution has a devastating effect on the humans’ respiratory system including increased prevalence of allergic reactions (Rockowitz, M., & Barron's Educational Series, Inc. 2007).
Carbon dioxide is an abundant gas yet another major causes of acid rain. Its abundance is attributed to the fact that many processes on earth generate the gas. Despite existing in water, it readily reacts with water to form weak carbonic acid. Its effect is similar to sulfur dioxides’ and nitrogen oxides (Rockowitz & Barron's Educational Series, Inc. 2007). Other groups of toxic solutions that modify the pH of the environment include limestone solutions. The solution is mostly formed due to mining activities. Despite the fact that it is alkaline as opposed to most environmental pH modifies, it is worth noting that living organism lives in a specific ph window as observed by ("pH of Water - Environmental Measurement Systems," 2018). Therefore, the solution’s interaction with soil or water bodies impacts negatively on the affected environment. Lastly, sewage solution forms another class of common toxic solution that modifies the environment’s pH. They are constructed due to inadequate drainage and sewage blockages. Sewage solution develops an acidic solution that lowers the environmental pH. Its interaction with water bodies kills its occupants (Dudzinska & Pawlowski, 2013).
In conclusion, it is clear that the primary contributor of toxic solutions that modify the environment's pH is human activities. Some of the common effects of the modified pH include predisposing humans to infections such as those affecting the respiratory system. Other effects include the destruction of water and soil ecosystem by killing living organism and corrosion making maintenance of buildings and exposed surfaces expensive. Nonetheless, curbing the emission of these gasses is likely to reduce environmental pH modification significantly.
References
Dudzinska, M., & Pawlowski, L. (2013). Environmental Engineering IV . CRC Press.
pH of Water - Environmental Measurement Systems . (2018). Environmental Measurement Systems . Retrieved 24 April 2018, from https://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-quality/ph/
Pommerening-Röser, A., & Koops, H. (2005). Environmental pH as an important factor for the distribution of urease positive ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Microbiological Research , 160 (1), 27-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micres.2004.09.006
Rockowitz, M., & Barron's Educational Series, Inc. (2007). GED, High School Equivalency Exam; 2007-2008 . Hauppauge, N.Y: Barron's Educational Series.
