ACID RAIN

MS. KATHY CLAIRE P. BALLEGA, RM, RN, MAN, LPT

 Acid Rain/ Acid Deposition
Acid Rain includes any form of
precipitation with acidic components,
such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to
the ground from the atmosphere in
wet or dry forms.
This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or
even dust that is acidic.
 Formed when gases, such as CO2 and SO2
react with the water in the atmosphere
The pH of Rain drops
As low as pH of 2
Very harmful to our
living environment
Examples:
When CO2 reacts with water, carbonic acid is
formed.
CO2 (g)+H2O(l)-H2CO3(aq)
When SO2 reacts with water, sulfurous acid is
formed.
SO2 (g)+H2O(l)-H2SO3(aq)
When NO2 reacts with water, nitric acid is
formed.
2NO2(g)+H2O(l)-HNO2(aq)+HNO3(aq)
Acid Rain/ Acid Deposition
Acidity and alkalinity are measured using a pH
scale for which 7.0 is neutral.
The lower a substance's pH (less than 7), the
more acidic it is; the higher a substance's pH
(greater than 7), the more alkaline it is.
Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6; it is slightly
acidic because carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves
into it forming weak carbonic acid. ACID RAIN
USUALLY HAS A PH BETWEEN 4.2 AND 4.4.
Acidity- pH Scale

10
Sources of SO2 Emissions in 1992
Transportation Fuel Combustion
Industrial Processes
15.2% 4.8%

79.8%

Total emissions - 22.7 Million tons in 1992

16
Sources of NOx- 23.2 M tons in 1992
Highway
Other
Vehicles
18%
Off 33%
Road
Vehicles
12%

Industri
al Electric
Sources Utilities
5% 32%

On a global scale, agricultural practices contribute

approximately 70 percent of anthropogenic nitrous oxide 17
ACID RAIN CAN BE
HARMFUL
Acid rain is an extremely
destructive form of pollution, and
the environment suffers from its
effects. Forests, trees, lakes,
animals, and plants suffer from
acid rain.
Trees
The needles and leaves of the
trees turn brown and fall off.
Trees can also suffer from stunted
growth; and have damaged bark
and leaves, which makes them
vulnerable to weather, disease,
and insects.
All of this happens
partly because of direct
contact between trees
and acid rain, but it also
happens when trees
absorb soil that has
come into contact with
acid rain.
The soil poisons the tree
with toxic substances
that the rain has
deposited into it.
Lakes are also damaged by acid rain. Fish die off, and that
removes the main source of food for birds. Acid rain can
even kill fish before they are born when the eggs are laid
and come into contact with the acid.
Fish usually die only when the acid level of a lake is high;
when the acid level is lower, they can become sick, suffer
stunted growth, or lose their ability to reproduce.
Also, birds can die from eating "toxic" fish and insects.
 Acid rain can be absorbed by both plants (through
soil and/or direct contact) and animals (from things
they eat and/or direct contact). When humans eat
these plants or animals, the toxins inside of their meals
can affect them. Brain damage, kidney problems, and
Alzheimer's disease has been linked to people eating
"toxic" animals/plants.
EGEE 102 - Pisupati 26
Humans can become seriously ill,
and can even die from the effects
of acid rain. One of the major
problems that acid rain can cause
in a human being is respiratory
problems.

Many can find it difficult to

breathe, especially people who
have asthma. Asthma, along with
dry coughs, headaches, and
throat irritations can be caused
by the sulphur dioxides and
nitrogen oxides from acid rain.
Research carried out in North America in
1982, revealed that sulphur pollution
killed 51,000 people and about 200,000
people become ill as a result of the
pollution.
 Sulfates and nitrates
that form in the
atmosphere from
sulfur dioxide (SO2)
and nitrogen oxides
(NOx) emissions
contribute to visibility
impairment, meaning
we can't see as far or
as clearly through the
air. Sulfate particles
account for 50 to 70
percent of the visibility
reduction 30
Acid rain dissolves the stonework and mortar of buildings
(especially those made out of sandstone or limestone).
It reacts with the minerals in the stone to form a powdery
substance (Gypsum) that can be washed away by rain.
An example of acid precipitation damage to an outdoor statue. The statue, made of
porous sandstone, was created in 1702 as part of the gable of the entrance of the Castle
at Herten, near Reclinhausen, Germany. The left photo, taken in 1908, shows some
stains and the loss of the left hand, but most of the face and right hand were intact after
206 years of exposure. The right photo, taken in 1969, shows the loss of most of the
detail of the statue over 61 years.
EGEE 102 - Pisupati 32
 Increases the oxidation
rate of metals such as
copper and bronze
These effects seriously
reduce the value to
society of buildings,
bridges, cultural objects
(such as statues,
monuments, and
tombstones), and cars
 Currently, both the railway industry and the aeroplane
industry are having to spend a lot of money to repair the
corrosive damage done by acid rain. Also, bridges have
collapsed in the past due to acid rain corrosion.
 Areas of Highest Concern
Current problem areas Potential future problem
are: areas:
Eastern United States Southern India
South Western Canada West Africa
Eastern Europe Indonesia
East Coast of China Thailand
Regions Affected
Several regions in the U.S. were identified as containing
many of the surface waters sensitive to acidification.
They include
the Adirondacks and Catskill Mountains in New York
state,
the mid-Appalachian highlands along the east coast,
the upper Midwest, and mountainous areas of the
Western United States.
In areas like the Northeastern United States, where
soil buffering capacity is poor, some lakes now have a
pH value of less than 5. One of the most acidic lakes
reported is Little Echo Pond in Franklin, New York.
Little Echo Pond has a pH of 4.2.
EGEE 102 - Pisupati 37
Prevention
Coal burning power plants use Flue gas
desulfurization requiring a reaction tower that
extracts the sulfuric acid by reacting it with lime or
limestone slurry and removing the product with
scrubbers
Reduction in automotive emissions cuts down on
nitrogen oxides
Emissions trading put into practice to put economic
incentive into cleaning industrial activities
 Sulphur dioxide can be removed from power
stations chimneys but this process is
expensive.
Use renewable energy like wind power, solar
panels, tidal power, HEP schemes and
geothermal energy.
Fit catalytic converters to vehicle exhausts
which remove the nitrogen oxides.
Limit the number of vehicles on the roads and
increase public transport.
Individual Action
Turn off lights, computers, and other appliances when you're not using
them
Use energy efficient appliances: lighting, air conditioners, heaters,
refrigerators, washing machines, etc.
Only use electric appliances when you need them.
Keep your thermostat at 68 F in the winter and 72 F in the summer. You
can turn it even lower in the winter and higher in the summer when you
are away from home.
Insulate your home as best you can.
Carpool, use public transportation, or better yet, walk or bicycle whenever
possible
Buy vehicles with low NOx emissions, and maintain all vehicles well.

EGEE 102 - Pisupati 41

EPAs Action
EPA's Acid Rain Program limits, or "caps," sulfur
dioxide (SO2) emissions from power plants at 8.95
million tons annually, allows those plants to trade
SO2 allowances, and reduces nitrogen oxide emission
rates.

EGEE 102 - Pisupati 42

 Thank you and
God bless.
Ms. Kathy Claire P. Ballega