Effects of Acid Rain

With increase in pollution levels, acid rain has become a major threat to human beings, vegetation and water bodies. The rainwater was considered to be rich in minerals and various others elements useful for skin and hair. Today it is no more pure. Water droplets are mixed with toxic chemical substances that have the power to erode soil, corrode nature, cause skin problems and degrade forest on the whole. But why are the effects of acid rain so damaging? You have to know the details of acid rain in order to get the answer.

What is Acid Rain?

The main cause of acid rain will be described in this paragraph. You will get to know how intense the adverse effects of pollution are. When rain droplets contain high concentrations of hydrogen ions then it's pH is reduced (below 7) transforming it to acidic. Due to high pollution in the environment, chemical gases evaporate and mix with the water molecules of the atmosphere forming acids. Thus, the rainwater becomes acidic in nature. This water when falls on earth causes severe damage to environment and all forms of life. Toxic gases include sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon and ammonium. They produce acids when are mixed with water. This phenomenon is known as acid rain.

The Effects of Acid Rain

Effects on Vegetation
The best example to make one clear about acid rain effects on plants is the damaged forest of the Appalachian Mountains extending from Maine to Georgia. The roots of trees are damaged by acid rain. Thus, nutrient uptake is ceased causing death of many plants. Useful soil microorganism that help in carrying out biochemical process are damaged by acid rain. The waxy coat of the plants are damaged due to the acidic nature of the rain. Thus, plants become vulnerable to diseases. Acid rain have a negative effect on plant germination and reproduction process.

Effects on Aquatic Life
Acid rain has the ability to leach harmful heavy metals like aluminum and mercury from the soil. They get drained to the water body where aquatic life in hampered. Acid rain also affects species dwelling in streams and lakes. Not only a large number of species are killed due to deposition of harmful chemicals inside their body but it also affects the health of human beings on consumption of different varieties of fish. These toxic chemicals also damage hatchlings and their reproduction process. Decrease in number of species as a result of sudden deposition of acid is known as acid shock.

Effects on Human Beings
If people get exposed to acid rain will suffer from skin blisters, irritation and burns. Under high acidic condition, the skin gets burned. Scientists also say that the risk of getting skin cancer is highly increased due to acid rain. The health effects of acid rain also comes from other sources. The harmful chemicals pass into human beings when they consume the plants and animals. Many rural dwellers suffer from health problems due to consumption of acidified drinking water directly from lakes and other water bodies.

The chemicals when poured with water over beautiful buildings and monuments, gradually corrode them, snatching away the beauty. Although environmental concerns and government have taken conscientious steps to carve environmental pollution, the ultimate result will be positive if we human beings are concerned about our environment and step forward to save our planet Earth.