Acid Rain

Acid Rain

1. Scientific Consequences

   • Scientists have found many ways to reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide released from coal-burning power plants. One option is to use coal that contains less sulfur, or to “wash” the coal to remove some of the sulfur.
     • Some power plants have installed scrubbers, which remove the sulfur dioxide from gases leaving the smokestack. This is due to nitrogen oxides created during the process of burning coal and other fossil fuels, some power plants are changing the way they burn coal.
   • Car development/improvement; car manufacturers are required to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants released by new cars.
     • One type of technology used in cars is called a catalytic converter. This piece of equipment has been used for over 20 years to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides released by cars.

2. Legal and Ethical Consequences

   • The Government passed the Clean Air Act Amendments law of 1990, and this law started the Acid Rain Program.
     • This program limits the amount of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that power plants can release into the air (nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide the pollutants that cause acid rain).

3. Economic Consequences

   • Damages buildings and staues
     • Acid rain contains chemicals which causes paint to peel off buildings and make statues look worn out or old, reducing their beauty.
   • Damages crops and contaminates bodies of water where fish are caught.
     • This reduces the amount of income companies get, and forces them to spend more money on repairs.

4. Environmental Consequences

   • Effects Lakes/Streams/Rivers
     • Acid rain releases aluminum in the soils of the streams and rivers. This aluminum is highly toxic to a lot of aquatic organisms.
       • Lakes and streams become acidic, and the pH level goes down.
   • Effects Forests and Plants
     • This causes plants to lose valuable nutrients
     • Trees become weaker, making it harder to withstand stresses such as disease, insect pests and cold weather.
       • Acid rain kills plants
         • Primary consumers will have no food, and will eventually die out
   • Effects Animals on land and Aquatic Organisms
     • Kills many aquatic organisms ,and land organisms who use the stream or river as a source of drinking water.
       • May kill the primary consumers (fish) leaving tertiary consumers (Pelicans/Ducks) with no food.

5. Social Consequences

   • Acidic rain affects human health
     • Acid rain may cause lung problems, such as brochitis, or asthma.

6. Personal Consequences

   • May affect my health
     • May affect my childrens health
     • I might waste money on cures for my health (if needed)
   • Could create toxic environments for future jobs
     • Could limit the amount of job opportunities and put me at risk