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  • Essay / Measures to counteract the harmful effects of acid rain

    Table of contentsPhysical measuresLegislative measuresConclusionRainwater is naturally acidic and as rain falls, it dissolves carbon dioxide and water naturally present in the atmosphere to form a weak carbonic acid with a pH of 5.6. The combustion of fossil fuels and emissions from vehicles and natural sources cause sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide to combine with rain to form a stronger acid, in the form of wet deposition (acid rain , snow or fog) or a dry deposit in the form of dust. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay Vital plant nutrients, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium ions, are eroded from the soil surface and toxic ions d Aluminum and lead that were once insoluble are seeping into the ground. soil affecting the health and productivity of plants in that ecosystem. Aluminum washed into lakes, rivers or reservoirs from surrounding land causes algae blooms, which has serious consequences on the aquatic ecosystem. Lakes also become so acidic that fish are unable to regulate their internal salt concentration and therefore die en masse, depleting their stock. Additionally, acid rain can denature proteins and inhibit enzymatic action in tissues and organisms. Invertebrates with exoskeletons are particularly sensitive and can die when acid dissolves the calcium compounds that form their skeleton. Acid deposition further causes corrosion of buildings, statues, railway lines and iron bridges, to name a few. Buildings and statues, especially those made of limestone, are damaged by acid rain. Acidic water also corrodes the inside of water pipes and causes copper, aluminum and lead ions to be released from water pipes into drinking water. Drinking water becomes toxic, causing adverse effects on human health, such as "diarrhea in young children and liver and kidney damage"). Some research has linked Alzheimer's disease to higher levels of aluminum in the body. Human diseases such as bronchitis, asthma and emphysema are exacerbated by the production of acid rain and, furthermore, the treatment of these diseases places a burden on the National Health Service. Cross-border pollution caused by prevailing winds affects countries where the acid was not produced and leaves an ecological impact. burden on their society, for example the Scandinavian coniferous forest destroyed by acid rain due to pollution in other European countries. acidity of lakes by adding calcium carbonate to neutralize the acid; Limiting the number of vehicles on the road, a difficult task to achieve in most countries around the world; Use of alternative energy sources such as hydroelectricity, solar, wind or nuclear; Attacks flue gas flues by scrubbing sulfur, also known as flue gas desulfurization (FGD). Most of the physical measures above have resulted in a reduction in acid rain. However, the effectiveness of adding calcium or liming to neutralize lake acids has its limits. It is expensive to lime all acidified lakes and difficult to apply to lakes and streams in remote areas. Flue gas desulfurization results in high operating costs, placing financial pressure on Eastern European countries that rely heavily on coal to upgrade their..