Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter III
Reporting & Methodology
4.2 Conclusion
5 Bibliography 35
Study Of Acid Rain
CHAPTER-I
of Project.
Aims
ObjectivesOf Project
CHAPTER-II
INTRODUCTION OF
ENVIRONMENT
&
ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION
INTRODUCTION1
"Acid rain" is a broad term used to describe several ways that acids fall out of the
atmosphere. A more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts:
Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. As this acidic water flows
over and through the ground, it affects a variety of plants and animals. The strength of
the effects depend on many factors, including how acidic the water is, the chemistry
and buffering capacity of the soils involved, and the types of fish, trees, and other
living things that rely on the water.
Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles. About half of the acidity
in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition. The wind blows these
acidic particles and gases onto buildings, cars, homes, and trees. Dry deposited gases
and particles can also be washed from trees and other surfaces by rainstorms. When
that happens, the runoff water adds those acids to the acid rain, making the
combination more acidic than the falling rain alone.
Prevailing winds blow the compounds that cause both wet and dry acid
deposition across state and national borders, and sometimes over hundreds of miles.
Scientists discovered, and have confirmed, that sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen
oxides (NOx) are the primary causes of acid rain. In the US, About 2/3 of all SO2 and
1/4 of all NOx comes from electric power generation that relies on burning fossil fuels
like coal.
Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water,
oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. Sunlight increases
the rate of most of these reactions. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and
nitric acid.
The term acid rain is commonly used to mean the deposition of acidic
components in rain, snow, dew, or dry particles. The more accurate term is "acid
precipitation." Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted
into the atmosphere, undergo chemical transformations and are absorbed by water
droplets in clouds. The droplets then fall to earth as rain, snow, mist, dry dust, hail, or
sleet. This increases the acidity of the soil, and affects the chemical balance of lakes
and streams.
The term "acid rain" is sometimes used more generally to include all forms of
acid deposition - both wet deposition, where acidic gases and particles are removed by
rain or other precipitation, and dry deposition removal of gases and particles to the
Earth's surface in the absence of precipitation.
1. What is surrounded?
The answer to this question is living objects in general and man in particular.
2. By what Surrounded
The physical attributes are the answer to this question, which become
environment. In fact, the concern of all education is the environment of man.
However, man cannot exist or be understood in isolation from the other forms of life
and from plant life. Hence, environment refers to the sum total of condition, which
surround point in space and time. The scope of the term Environment has been
changing and widening by the passage of time. In the primitive age, the environment
consisted of only physical aspects of the planted earth' land, air and water as
biological communities. As the time passed on man extended his environment
through his social, economic and political functions.
3. Where Surrounded
The answer to this question. It is in nature that physical component of the plant
earth, viz land, air, water etc., support and affect life in the biosphere. According to a
Goudie environment is the representative of physical components of the earth where
in man is an important factor affecting the environment.
(c) It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major portion
of the electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
(300 to 2500 nm) and radio waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out tissue-
damaging ultra-violate waves below about 300 nm.
(ii) About 2% of the water resources is locked in the polar icecaps and
glaciers.
Definition Of Pollution:
1. Air Pollution
2. Water Pollution
3. Thermal Pollution
4. Nuclear Pollution
5. Soil Pollution
Air pollution
Acid rains
CHAPTER-III
The only place on earth where pure water is found is in a laboratory. Rain
water always contains small amounts of impurities. These impurities come from dust
particles or are absorbed from the gases in the air.
Acid rain is caused by the release of the gases SO2 (sulphur dioxide) and
NOX (nitrous oxides). The main sources of SO2 in South Africa are coal-fired power
stations and metal working industries. The main sources of NOX emissions are
vehicles and fuel combustion.Sulphur dioxide reacts with water vapour and sunlight
to form sulphuric acid. Likewise NOX form nitric acid in the air. These reactions take
hours, or even days, during which polluted air may move hundreds of kilometres.
Thus acid rain can fall far from the source of pollution. When mist or fog droplets
condense they will remove pollutants from the air and can become more strongly acid
than acid rain. Even snow can be acid. Gases and particles, not dissolved in water,
with a low pH can also be deposited directly onto soil, grass and leaves. It is possible
that even more acidity is deposited in this way than by rain! Not much is known about
this process, and it is particularly difficult to study.
Evidence for an increase in the levels of acid rain comes from analyzing
layers of glacial ice. These show a sudden decrease in pH from the start of the
Industrial Revolution of 6 to 4.5 or 4. Other information has been gathered from
studying organisms known as diatoms which inhabit ponds. Over the years these die
and are deposited in layers of sediment on the bottoms of the ponds. Diatoms thrive
in certain pH levels, so the numbers of diatoms found in sediment layers of increasing
depth give an indication of the change in pH over the years.
downwind of the emissions, with mountainous regions tending to receive the most
(simply because of their higher rainfall). An example of this effect is the low pH of
rain (compared to the local emissions) which falls in Scandinavia. Acid rain was first
reported in Manchester, England, which was an important city during the Industrial
Revolution. In 1852, Robert Angus Smith found the relationship between acid rain
and atmospheric pollution. The term "acid rain" was used for the first time by him in
1872. Though acid rain was discovered in 1852, it wasn't until the late 1960s that
scientists began widely observing and studying the phenomenon. Canadian Harold
Harvey was among the first to research a "dead" lake. Public awareness of acid rain in
the U.S increased in the 1990s after the New York Times promulgated reports from
the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire of the myriad deleterious
environmental effects demonstrated to result from it.
Tg(S) per year in the form of SO2 comes from fossil fuel combustion and industry, 2.8
Tg(S) from wildfires and 7-8 Tg(S) per year from volcanoes.
3.5Natural emissions
The effects of acidic deposits have been detected in glacial ice thousands
of years old in remote parts of the globe.
Human emissions
The principal cause of acid rain is sulfuric and nitrogen compounds from
human sources, such as electricity generation, factories and motor vehicles. The gases
can be carried hundreds of miles in the atmosphere before they are converted to acids
and deposited.
In the gas phase sulfur dioxide is oxidized by reaction with the hydroxyl
radical via a termolecular reaction:
SO2 + OH HOSO2
In the presence of water sulfur trioxide (SO3) is converted rapidly to sulfuric acid:
NO2 + OH HNO3
When clouds are present the loss rate of SO 2 is faster than can be explained by
gas phase chemistry alone. This is due to reactions in the liquid water droplets
Hydrolysis
Sulfur dioxide dissolves in water and then, like carbon dioxide, hydrolyses in
a series of equilibrium reactions:
SO2H2O H++HSO3-
HSO3- H++SO32-
Oxidation
There are a large number of aqueous reactions that oxidise sulfur from S(IV)
to S(VI), leading to the formation of sulfuric acid. The most important oxidation
reactions are with ozone, hydrogen peroxide and oxygen (reactions with oxygen are
catalysed by iron and manganese in the cloud droplets).
Acid deposition
Fig: Processes involved in acid deposition (note that only SO2 and NOx play a
significant role in acid rain).
Wet deposition
Wet deposition of acids occurs when any form of precipitation (rain, snow, etc)
removes acids from the atmosphere and delivers it to the Earth's surface. This can
result from the deposition of acids produced in the raindrops (see aqueous phase
chemistry above) or by the precipitation removing the acids either in clouds or below
clouds. Wet removal of both gases and aerosol are both of importance for wet
deposition.
Dry deposition
Acid deposition also occurs via dry deposition in the absence of precipitation.
This can be responsible for as much as 20 to 60% of total acid deposition. This occurs
when particles and gases stick to the ground, plants or other surfaces.
Almost everybody has heard about acid rain and knows that it is something
bad. But what exactly is it? What are its effects on plants, animals, human beings, and
what can be done to solve this problem?
The term acid rain does not convey the true nature of the problem and
therefore scientists use the term "acid depositions". This is because the acid which has
formed due to pollution may return to the earth as a solid or a gas and not just as rain.
Depending upon the climatic conditions it could also come down as rain, fog, or
snow, and in the wet form it is known as "acid precipitation". Acid rain causes
acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees at high
elevations (for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet) and many sensitive forest
soils. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints,
including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our nation's
cultural heritage. Prior to falling to the earth, SO2 and NOx gases and their particulate
matter derivatives, sulfates and nitrates, contribute to visibility degradation and harm
public health.
3.7Sources
The major source of emissions of nitrogen oxides into the air, is from vehicles
and other places where fossil fels are burned. Forest fires, often caused by man, either
deliberately or accidentally, are another source of pollution.
The problem of acid rain is not new. It was first noticed during the 17th.
century, when people observed the effects of industrialisation on plants and animals.
As far back as in 1872, the Scottish chemist, Angus Robert Smith wrote a book "Air
and Rain: The Beginnings of Chemical Climatology", in which he used the term
"Acid Rain", and the name has stuck. The problem has become severe since the 1960s
when fishermen noticed a sharp reduction in the quantity of fish in lakes of North
America and Europe.
The havoc done by acid rain is not localised in the place where it is caused.
The atmospheric emissions may travel for several days and over long distances
depending upon wind and climatic conditions, before coming down as acid rain. The
problem caused in an industrialised area may therefore result in acid rain in the
surrounding forests or lakes, or even further away. It is believed that around 50% of
the acid rain that occurs in Canada is due to pollution caused in the United States of
America, and the effect of polluting industries in England can be felt in Norway.
If there were no pollution, the rain would still be acidic. Natural rainfall has
a pH of around 6.0. This is because of the effect of Carbon dioxide in the air which
combines with water to form carbonic acid. The effect of this is however negligible,
as it is neutralised in the soil by alkaline material like limestone. However the other
emissions cause the pH of the rain water to drop below 5.5 and at this level it is
considered to be acid rain. The soil cannot now neutralise the acidity of the rain water.
In some places the acidification is so severe that the pH drops to around 4.0. Rare
cases have been reported of acid rain having pH of around 2 - 2.5.
Both natural vegetation and crops are affected by acid rain. The roots are
damaged by acidic rainfall, causing the growth of the plant to be stunted, or even in its
death. Nutrients present in the soil, are destroyed by the acidity. Useful micro
organisms which release nutrients from decaying organic matter, into the soil are
killed off, resulting in less nutrients being available for the plants. The acid rain,
falling on the plants damages the waxy layer on the leaves and makes the plant
vulnerable to diseases. The cumulative effect means that even if the plant survives it
will be very weak and unable to survive climatic conditions like strong winds, heavy
rainfall, or a short dry period. Plant germination and reproduction is also inhibited by
the effects of acid rain.
The action of acid rain causes harmful elements like mercury and
aluminium to be leached from the soil and rocks and it is then carried into the lakes
where aquatic life may be affected. Warning signs have been posted at several lakes,
telling about the dangers of eating fish which may have been poisoned by mercury.
Just as the soil has a natural ability to neutralise the acidity of rain water, within a
certain limit, so also lakes and other water bodies can to a certain extent nullify the
effects of acid rain. However as the acidity increases, the natural mechanisms are no
longer able to cope. As the water gets more acidic its pH goes down. As the pH
reaches 5.5, plankton, certain insects and crustaceans begin to die. At a pH of around
5.0, the fish population begins to die. When the pH drops below 5.0, all the fish have
died, and the bottom of the lake lies covered with undecayedmaterial. Every year
during the spring thaw, there is a sudden increase in the acidity of the lakes as frozen
acid is suddenly deposited in them. This "Acid Shock" prevents the reproduction of
aquatic species, or results in the deaths of the hatchlings.
All living organisms are interdependent on each other. If a lower life form is
killed, other species that depended on it will also be affected. Every animal up the
food chain will be affected. Animals and birds, like waterfowl or beavers, which
depended on the water for food sources or as a habitat, also begin to die. Due to the
effects of acid rain, animals which depended on plants for their food also begin to
suffer. Tree dwelling birds and animals also begin to languish due to loss of habitat.
Mankind depends upon plants and animals for food. Due to acid rain the entire
fish stocks in certain lakes have been wiped out. The economic livelihood of people
who depended on fish and other aquatic life suffers as a result. Eating fish which may
have been contaminated by mercury can 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. Urban drinking water supplies are generally treated to
neutralise some of the effects of acid rain and therefore city dwellers may not directly
suffer due to acidified drinking water. But out in the rural areas, those depending upon
lakes, rivers, and wells will feel the effects of acid rain on their health. The acidic
water moving through pipes causes harmful elements like lead and copper to be
leached into the water. Aluminium which dissolves more easily in acid rain as
compared to pure rainfall, has been linked to Alzheimers disease. The treatment
of urban water supplies may not include removal of elements like Aluminium, and so
is a serious problem in cities too.
Ozone (O3) is a gas consisting of three oxygen atoms. The ozone layer of the
atmosphere acts as a shield protecting Earth's surface from the Sun's harmful
ultraviolet (UV) radiation. When ozone absorbs UV radiation, it decomposes into an
oxygen molecule (O2) and an oxygen atom (O) as:
Even a relatively small decrease in the ozone layer could produce significant
risks to human, animal, and plant life. For example, scientists estimated that even a 1
percent decrease in global ozone levels would produce 10,000 more cases of skin
cancer each year.
O3 + Cl ClO + O2
ClO + O Cl + O2
It was not until the Antarctic ozone hole was discovered in 1985 that scientists
first realized how fragile the ozone layer can be to specific chemicals. In 1987 thirty-
one countries agreed to protect the ozone layer through a reduction and elimination of
the chemicals that destroy ozone. This international agreement, known as the
Montreal Protocol, has successfully reduced the use and production of CFCs, with the
long-term goal of restoring the ozone layer to its original state.
Other effects
All living things, whether plants or animals, whether living on land or in the
water or trees, are affected either directly or indirectly by acid rain. Even buildings,
bridges and other structures are affected. In cities, paint from buildings have peeled
off and colours of cars have faded due to the effects of acid rain. From the TajMahal
in India to the Washington Monument great buildings all over the world have been
affected by the acid rainfall which causes corrosion, fracturing, and discoloration in
the structures. In Europe, structures like The Acropolis in Greece and Renaissance
buildings in Italy, as well as several churches and cathedrals have suffered visible
damage. In the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, and in places in South America, ancient
Mayan Pyramids are being destroyed by the acid rain. Temples, murals, and ancient
inscriptions which had previously survived for centuries are now showing severe
signs of corrosion. Even books, manuscripts, paintings, and sculpture are being
affected in museums and libraries, where the ventilation system cannot eliminate the
acid particles from the air which circulates in the building. In some parts of Poland,
trains are required to run slowly, as the tracks are badly damaged due to corrosion
caused by acid rainfall.
Solutions
The bottom line is that all things on earth are being affected by this problem
and the good news is that something is being done to solve it. Pressure from the
environmental groups, and public has increased as the effects of the havoc caused by
acid rain become more apparent. Governments all over the world have drawn up plans
to tackle this problem.
Lakes that have become highly acidic, can be treated by adding large
quantities of alkaline substances like quicklime, in a process called liming. Although
it has worked in several places, it has not been successful where the lake is very large,
making this procedure economically unfeasible, or in other lakes where the flushing
rate of the lake waters is too large resulting in the lake becoming acidic again.
7th Wonder of the world one of the worlds beautiful historical monument also
not left untouched from this ACID RAIN.
The durability of the TajMahal has been subject to controversy for more than a
decade due to an increase in the level at Agra allegedly caused by operations of a new
refinery. The failure of the lime plaster in some places has been attributed to this
increase in level. Detailed physico-chemical, petrographic, IR and SEM studies were
carried out on these plasters, but no evidence of degradation due to damage was
found.
INTRODUCTION:-
The Taj Mahal, which is one of the most important and well known
monuments in the world, is built of bricks with a white marble cladding on the
exterior and lime plaster on the interior. Some years ago the plaster was found to have
failed in some places through cracking, flaking and loss of adhesion. The monument
and its surrounding have been the subject of manage studies in India and abroad.
However, in view of the possible increase in SO2 level in Agra area due to local
industries or the Mathura refinery, studies were under taken to assess the present state
of the plastrwork in the monument .
EXPERIMENTAL
The plaster samples were examined visually for their colour, nature of the aggregate,
presence of lumps of lime, fibres, etc. The nature of the aggregate was observed by
mechanically separating the coarse particle and digesting the rest of the samples in 1:1
HCl. The visual characteristics of the plaster constituents are shown in table
Chemical analysis:-
The sample for chemical anlysis was prepared by removing the coarse
aggregate and grinding reminder of the sample to pass 150 micron mesh sieve.
The determination of loss on ignition, acid insoluble residue and alumina were
carried out according to, the JCPDS procedure. This was followed by the
determination of thecon. Of magneshium, calcium, iron, sodium & potassium by
atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
CHAPTER-IV
SUMMARY
&
CONCLUSION
A.B.C.P., Sangli Page 31
Study Of Acid Rain
5.1 Summary
TAJ MAHAL
1. We studied acid rain its effects and also we have studied TajMahal as our
case study which is a known historical monument in India as well as abroad
because it is 7th wonder of world so it is also a source of income with respect
to tourism department of India.
MATHURA REFINERY
3. In order to cure all this government is also having future plans to settle this
problem by shifting industries away from Taj.
RIVER YAMMUNNA
5. In order to take one more step towards this project we should regularly check
our vehicle from PUC testing centers so that SO2 and NO2 content should be
decreased.
5.2 Conclusion
The bottom line is that all things on earth are being affected by this problem
and the good news is that something is being done to solve it. Pressure from the
environmental groups, and public has increased as the effects of the havoc caused by
acid rain become more apparent. Governments all over the world have drawn up plans
to tackle this problem.
Lakes that have become highly acidic, can be treated by adding large
quantities of alkaline substances like quicklime, in a process called liming. Although
it has worked in several places, it has not been successful where the lake is very large,
making this procedure economically unfeasible, or in other lakes where the flushing
rate of the lake waters is too large resulting in the lake becoming acidic again.
CHAPTER-IV
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bibliography:-
3.www.acidrain.co.in
4. www.wef.org/
5. www.unfccc.int