Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
PGDM-1st sem
Presents
PROJECT
REPORT
Titled
ACID RAIN:
Meaning, Sources,
Causes, Effects &
Solutions
Meaning
Acid rain is rainfall that has a pH
level of less than 5.6 or any other
form of precipitation that is
unusually acidic in nature. It is a
phenomenon in which acid is thrown
out from the atmosphere. In this
phenomenon, acid which has formed
due to pollution may return to the
earth as a solid or a gas or as a liquid
contained in rain. It is also called
acid deposition which may be one of
the following types:
Wet deposition
Dry deposition
Deposition Types
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Oxides of nitrogen
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Chemistry of Acid Rain
The main acids present in acid rain are:
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Measurement
Liquids with a pH less than 7 are acidic, and those with a
pH greater than 7 are bases.
Plants
Aquatic / Sea Life
Animals and Birds
Soil
Human Beings
Buildings & Monuments
Effect on Plants
Acid rain can deplete the nutrients in the soil, thereby depriving the
plants of their food. Nutrients in soil dissolve in acid rain and get
washed away before the plants can utilize them. The poor quality acidic
soil is not only incapable of buffering but it also becomes intoxicated
with harmful substances like mercury and aluminum, which are
absorbed by the plants.
Acid rain washes away important minerals from leaves. Acid rain also
blocks the small pores on the leaves' surface, through which they take in
carbon dioxide. With improper functioning of leaves, the growth of
trees gets retarded. This results in a loss of leaves, stunted growth and
damaged bark. Such trees are more prone to attacks by fungi and
insects. This can even result in the death of trees.
Also, the acidic fog that covers the trees, deprives the leaves of sunlight
and makes them weak. As a result, the leaves are unable to perform
photosynthesis, rendering the trees weak and susceptible to various
diseases and infections.
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Effect on Aquatic / Sea Life
All of the sea life will die when the water that they swim
in gets to be too acidic. For example, all fish will die
when the water goes below a pH of 4.5. Most of the frogs
and insects that live around the water will also die when
the water reaches a pH of 4.5. Aquatic plants will grow
the best when the water is a pH between 7.0 and 9.2. If
acid rain gets to be more of a problem, then all of the sea
life will eventually be gone.
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Effect on Animals and Birds
Animals and birds are not directly affected by the acid rain, but
as they are the part of food chain, they invariably have to face
the effects. Consuming plants that are intoxicated by the acid
rain can produce certain problems in animals and birds.
Reduction in forest also deprives them of their habitat. This may
result in substantial decrease in their population.
All living organisms are interdependent on each other. If a
lower life form is killed, other species that depend on it will also
be affected. Every animal up the food chain will be affected.
Animals and birds, like waterfowl or beavers, which depends on
the water for food sources or as a habitat, also begin to die. Due
to the effects of acid rain, animals which depend on plants for
their food also begin to suffer. Tree dwelling birds and animals
also begin to languish due to loss of habitat.
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Effect on Soil
Soil contains many harmful minerals such as mercury and
aluminum. These elements can't be absorbed by plants
and trees and are thus harmless. Upon contact with acid
rain, these chemicals undergo chemical reactions with the
acids. As a result, compounds of aluminum, lead and
mercury are formed. Plants and trees can easily absorb
these compounds. Such elements, which are extremely
harmful to living forms, ultimately affect the entire food
chain. These chemicals not only harm the flora, but also
the animals that feed on them.
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Effect on Human Beings
Acid rain is harmful to human health. Air pollutions leads to several
health problems like bronchitis, asthma or damage to lungs. The sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides may lead to irritation of eyes, ears and
nose and poor visibility. These pollutants can also cause throat
infections and dry coughs. In addition, several problems may arise due
to consumption of intoxicated plants or animals. Drinking water
contaminated by aluminium, mercury and lead is highly dangerous for
human health.
Mankind depends upon plants and animals for food. Due to acid rain
the entire fish stocks in certain lakes are wiped out. The economic
livelihood of people who depend on fish and other aquatic life suffers
as a result. Eating fish contaminated by mercury may cause serious
health problems. In addition to loss of plant and animal life as food
sources, acid rain gets into the food we eat, the water we drink, as well
as the air we breathe. Due to this, asthmatic people and children are
directly affected. Back
Effect on Buildings & Monuments
Acid rain can also cause damage to certain building materials,
marble statues and historical monuments. This results when the
sulfuric acid in the rain chemically reacts with the calcium
compounds in the stones (limestone, sandstone, marble and
granite) to create gypsum.
This result is also commonly seen on old gravestones where the
acid rain can cause the inscription to become completely
illegible. Acid rain also causes an increased rate of oxidation for
metals, and in particular copper and bronze. Visibility is also
reduced by sulfate and nitrate aerosols and particles in the
atmosphere.
Many great structures in the world like Taj Mahal in India,
Washington Monument, Renaissance buildings in Italy,
Acropolis in Greece have all been affected by the acid rain.
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Solutions to Acid Rain
On government level
On industry level
On individual level
Solutions on government level
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Solutions on industry level
Clean up smokestacks and exhaust pipes.
Limit the quantity of emissions released in the atmosphere.
Add scrubbers to smoke stacks to reduce the amount of
Sulphur-dioxide dumped in the atmosphere.
Specially designed catalytic converters to be used to ensure
that the gases coming out from exhaust pipes of
automobiles are rendered harmless.
Industries which use coal as fuel should wash the coal
before using it thereby reducing the amount of Sulphur
present in it, and consequently the amount of emissions.
Usage of coal with a low Sulphur content also reduces the
problem.
A reduction in use of vehicles will reduce the amount of
emission caused by the vehicles.
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Switch off lights, and other electrical appliances when not
required .
Reducing power consumption will reduce the amount of
coal burnt to produce electricity, and thus reduce the
amount of pollution.
Use alternative energy sources. There are other sources of
electricity besides fossil fuels. They include: nuclear power,
hydropower, wind energy, geothermal energy, and solar
energy. There are also alternative energies available to
power automobiles, including natural gas powered vehicles,
battery-powered cars, fuel cells, and combinations of
alternative and gasoline powered vehicles.
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Solutions on individual level
Turn off lights, computers, and other appliances when not using
them.
Use energy efficient appliances: lighting, air conditioners, heaters,
refrigerators, washing machines, etc.
Only use electric appliances when it is needed.
Keep the thermostat at 68 F in the winter and 72 F in the summer. It
can be turned even lower in the winter and higher in the summer
when one is away from home.
Insulate the home as best one can.
Use of public transportation, or better yet, walk or bicycle whenever
possible.
Buying vehicles with low Nitrogen oxide emissions, and maintain
all vehicles well.
Running of the washing machine / dishwasher only with a full load.
Turn off the lights in empty rooms or when one will be away from
home.
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Turn off the hot water tank when one will go for a long period of
time .
Controlled use of air conditioner as much.
Install fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent light bulbs .
Try to reduce, reuse and recycle as often as one can.
Try not to burn a fire as often as one usually does.
Make sure that vehicle’s air conditioning system isn’t leaking.
For alternate fuels, trying ethanol, propane, or natural gas.
Not leaving Televisions, VCRs, Microwave Ovens or Music
Systems on Stand-by when not required. These are to be switched
off.
Become well-informed about causes, effects & solution of acid rain
problem.
Speaking to others about this problem. Increasing awareness is one
way of ensuring that things are done to solve this global problem.
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END OF
PRESENTATION
THANK YOU