Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Acid Rain

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The Acid Rain Issue


Acid Rain is a serious problem with disastrous effects. Every day this


problem increases. Many believe that this issue is too small to deal with,


Cheap custom writing service can write essays on Acid Rain


but if the acid rain problem is not met with head on, the effects on


people, plants, animals, and the economy will only worsen. In the


following paragraphs you will learn what acid rain is, the effects it has


on human life, animals, the economy, the economic costs, and what is being


done to help to stop this problem. This topic is very important because


acid rain effects everyone everywhere all over the world.I. What is acid


rain?Acid rain is the combination of two chemicals released into the


atmosphere. These chemicals are sulphur dioxide (SO) and nitrogen oxides


(Nox). Natural sources such as volcanoes, sea spray, rotting vegetation


and plankton are all contributors to acid rain, but burning fossil fuels,


such as coal and oil which are referred to as dry emissions are largely to


blame for more than half of the emissions into the world. Nationally, one


hundred and twenty tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are emitted


into the air each day.4A. How is acid rain formed?When the sulfur dioxide


reaches the atmosphere, it oxidizes to first form a sulfate ion. It then


becomes sulfuric acid when it joins with hydrogen atoms in the air and


falls back down to earth, usually in the form of rain, snow, or fog.1


Oxidation occurs the most in clouds and heavily polluted air where other


compounds such as ammonia and ozone help to catalyze the reaction,


converting more sulphur dioxide to sulphuric acid. The following are the


stoichiometric equations for the formation of sulphuric acidS (in coal) +


O ? SO SO + O ? SOSO + HO ? HSO4Nitric oxide and nitric dioxide


are also components of acid rain. Its sources are mainly from power


stations and exhaust fumes. Like sulphur dioxide, these nitrogen dioxides


also rise into the air and are oxidized in the clouds to form nitric acid.


Through this diagram you can better understand how acid rain is formed and


emitted into the earthII. Effects of acid rainAcid rain causes problems


in almost every aspect of the environment. Acid rain can have a


devastating effect on aquatic life, crops, forests, buildings, and also


human life. A. The human environmentAcid rain has a multiplicity of


effects in the human environment. The corrosion of limestone buildings in


towns and cities is one such effect. The acid also eats through the pipes


that channel water to the lakes. Far more insidious are the increasing


incidents of lung cancer, bronchitis, emphysema and asthma attributed to


breathing in the tiny particles of sulphur and other pollutants. Many


people drink water everyday that is laced with these harmful chemicals


without even knowing it.B. The natural environmentMuch of the early


concerns over the effects of acid rain are on the trees. The concern is


centered on the direct contact of the acid rain to the leaves of the


trees. It was estimated that more then sixty five percent of trees are


effected by acid rain.1 The rain scars the leaves, withers ferns and


lichens, accelerates the death of coniferous needles, sterilizes seeds,


and weakens the forest to a state that is vulnerable to disease


infestation. The rate of forest growth in New Hampshire has declined


eighteen percent between 156 and 165. Forests aren't alone in the


devastation. It has also been found that twenty thousand lakes have been


acidified through the changes in the groundwater.1 The soil is receiving


what seems to be an overdose of fertilizer or a large drenching of


vinegar. Unfortunately the damage to the soil may not be reversible or


repairable. On some croplands, tomatoes only grow to half of their full


weight as well as other crop deformities. These problems not only effect


the environment, but they also effect the economy. III. Effects of acid


rain on the economyBecause of acid rain, many fish have died. This reduces


the ability of fish being caught and sold. People who rely on fishing for


their income may find themselves without a job. Owners of farms may be


unable to produce quality crops to be sold. With the continued


deterioration of buildings, the economy will have to spend more money to


repair such problems.A. Economic costs of acid rainIt currently costs the


American automobile industry sixty one million dollars each year to use


acid-resistant paint on new vehicles. In turn, the cost of the vehicle


will increase to compensate for the cost of the resistant paint. This


inflation in automobile cost can prove to be a problem for many that rely


on a car but can not afford the influx. Acid rain is also responsible for


the loss of two billion to four billion dollars worth of wheat, corn,


soybeans, and peanuts. This is devastating for the income of the farmers


as well as the people who purchase these goods. Without these goods being


readily available, the prices will increase and the products could become


hard to get. The National Academy of Science estimates damage from acid


rain to be at least five billion dollars a year in the United States


alone.4IV. Attempts by the economy to control the acid rain problem A. The


Clean Air Act Amendment of 10There have been many propositions and


attempts to reduce the production of acid rain. In order to make this


attempt; the emission of sulfur dioxide must be reduced. One way of doing


this was by passing the Clean Air Act. The 10 Clean Air Acts sulfur


dioxide reduction program will complement health-based sulfur dioxide


pollution limits already in place to protect the public and the


environment from both nearby and distant sources of sulfur dioxide. The


law sets up a market-based system designed to lower sulfur dioxide


pollution levels. Beginning in the year 000, annual releases of sulfur


dioxide will be about forty percent lower than the 180 levels. Reducing


sulfur dioxide releases should cause a major reduction in acid rain. The


reduction is accomplished in two phases.Phase I of the program went into


effect January 1, 15.4 Big coal-burning boilers in one hundred and ten


power plants in twenty-one Midwest, Appalachian, Southeastern and


Northeastern states will have to reduce releases of sulfur dioxide and


nitrogen oxide omissions.4 As a result of Phase I, acid rain


concentrations have lowered by twenty five percent.4 Today, the average


cost annually experienced in Phase I is about two hundred dollars per


ton.7 In 000, Phase II of the acid rain program goes into effect, further


reducing the sulfur dioxide releases from the big coal-burning power


plants and covering other smaller polluters. Affected sources are


required to install systems that monitor emissions in order to track


progress. The average annual cost for this phase is about one hundred and


eighty five to two hundred and twenty dollars per ton.7To cut down on


nitrogen oxide pollution, EPA will require power plants to reduce their


nitrogen oxide releases, and will require reductions in nitrogen oxide


releases from new cars. Reducing nitrogen oxide releases will reduce both


acid rain and smog formation. Companies that release less than the amount


of regulated emissions can sell pollution credits to other companies.4


Each source must have sufficient credits to cover its annual emissions.


Companies that fail to meet the federal requirements are subject to a two


thousand dollar per ton excess emission fee.4 B. The Air Quality


AccordThis agreement was signed by the United States and Canada to


guarantee cleaner air and a healthier environment for both Canadians and


Americans.5 On August 5, 180, the United States and Canada agreed to


Memorandum of Intent concerning transboundrary air pollution. The


Memorandum of Intent stated that sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions would


be lowered by using previous laws that were established through the Clean


Air Act. Scientists were appointed on both sides to regulate the


progress.This agreement only intensified the debate instead of solving the


problem. The Canadians felt that the United States were not progressing


and following the agreed laws so they denounced the existing agreement.5


After many years of conflict the United States and Canada signed yet


another agreement in 186.5C. The Joint Report of the Special Envoys on


Acid RainIn this report the United States publicly stated that acid rain


was a serious environmental problem and agreed to implement a five year,


five hundred billion dollar technology demonstration program.5 In the end,


it was found that the US was not going to take serious action to control


the acid rain problem. In 10 when President George Bush was elected he


signed the Clean Air Act. This is when Canada and the United States agreed


to once again sign the Air Quality Accord. From then on the accord deemed


success. Even though this accord deemed success the Canadians still


believe that the United States is the major cause of their acid rain


problems.5 Canada also feels they have done more to control the effects of


the acid rain pollution in North America.5D. What is Europe Doing?Europe


has formed the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE).6


The European nations have signed two protocols on sulfur aimed at their


acid rain problems. 1. The 185 Helsinki Protocol on the Reduction of


SulfurThis protocol calls for a significant drop in transboundrary


emissions by all parties that participate.6 Twenty-one ECE countries,


including Canada have accepted this protocol. By 180 they have dropped


emissions by fifty percent.6. The 14 Olso Protocol on Further Reduction


of Sulfur Eighteen countries including Canada have ramified this


protocol.6 The goal of this protocol is to reduce the area where acid rain


exceeds the critical loads according to a formula that minimizes the total


cost of reduction.6 The UN-ECE is also trying to negotiate another


protocol to address acid rain as well as smog and other effects. V. How to


prevent and educate about acid rainA. Acid Rain 000The primary aim of


Acid Rain 000 is to educate young people about the changing nature of


acid rain and the response of environmental systems to these changes. The


participants of this program will be informed of the causes of acid rain


and they will also recognize that the effect of acid disposition is


variable and dependent on the capacity of a particular system to absorb


the pollution. The project targets children of all ages because the


awareness of acid rain is not restricted to any age level. At the primary


school level the children will take part in simple monitoring programs to


record acid rain levels. At the secondary level, children will be able to


analyze the results. Schools from all around the world participate in


this program because the acid rain problem is international. Without


joining a program there are many things that can be done to help reduce


formation of acid rain. They are


Conserve electricity.4


Use automobiles less.4


Collect water/snow samples and test them for pH.4


Contact local environmental groups about their involvement in the acid


rain issue.4


Study historical sites, buildings or monuments in your area and determine


how they are being affected by acid rain.4VI. ConclusionAcid rain can be a


devastating problem to all countries, but with the implementation of the


Clean Air Act, the Accord, and many other reforms that call for the


reduction of sulfur and nitrogen oxide releases, the acid rain problem can


be regulated. With help from everyone being conscious about what they are


doing day to day to contribute to the problem, the issue can turn to be a


problem of the past. Since the passage of the Clean Air Act, acid rain


levels have fallen dramatically across large portions of North America.8


But the decline doesn't mean that the problem is gone. There is still much


that everyone can do to help the problem and to help lower the annual cost


to the economy.If you are interested in learning more about the acid rain


problem you may want to contact the Acid Rain Foundation in Raleigh, North


Carolina, The Department of Environmental Protection in Harrisburg,


Pennsylvania, or Pennsylvanians for Acid Rain Control in Harrisburg,


Pennsylvania. These and thousands of other organizations strive to educate


the community about the acid rain problem and would be more than happy to


send you information about what you can do to help.Bibliography


Leslie R. Alm, Scientists and the Acid Rain policy in Canada and the US.


Science, Technology, and Human Values, 17, 4


Acid Rain Bad News About The Good News Business Week, 5 October 1,


5


Anne E. Smith, Jeremy Platt, A. Denny Ellerman, The cost of reducing SO


It's (higher than you think) Public Utilities Fortnightly, 15 May 18,


Acid Rain-A Definition http//www.qlink.queensu.ca


Whats being done? What is Europe and the UN-ECE doing?


http//www.ec.gc.ca/acidrain


Acid Rain The Facts http//www.brixworth.demon.co.uk


Department od Enviormental Protection, Acid Rain In Pennsylvania


http//www.dep.state.pa.us


Chuck, Acid Rain ChuckIII's College Resources


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