Acid rain was first noted in Western Europe, particularly Scandinavia, and North America in the 1950s. This problem now exists throughout the industrial world and has become special meaning due to increased technogenic emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. Over the course of several decades, the scope of this disaster became so wide and the negative consequences so great that in 1982 a special international conference on acid rain, which was attended by representatives of 20 countries and a number of international organizations. To this day, the severity of this problem remains; it is constantly in the focus of attention of national governments and international environmental organizations. On average, the acidity of precipitation, which falls mainly in the form of rain in Western Europe and North America over an area of ​​almost 10 million square meters. km is 5-4.5, and fogs here often have a pH of 3-2.5. IN recent years acid rain began to occur in industrial areas of Asia, Latin America and Africa. For example, in the Eastern Transvaal (South Africa), where 4/5 of the country's electricity is generated, per 1 sq. km, about 60 tons of sulfur fall per year in the form acid precipitation. In tropical areas, where industry is practically undeveloped, acid precipitation caused by the release of nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere due to the combustion of biomass.

A specific feature of acid rain is its transboundary nature, due to the transfer of acid-forming emissions by air currents over long distances - hundreds and even thousands of kilometers. This is greatly facilitated by the once adopted “high chimney policy” as effective remedy against ground air pollution. Almost all countries are simultaneously “exporters” of their own and “importers” of others’ emissions. The “wet” part of the emissions (aerosols) is exported; the dry part of the pollution falls in the immediate vicinity of the emission source or at a slight distance from it.

Exchange acid-forming and other air polluting emissions are typical for all countries Western Europe And North America. Great Britain, Germany, and France send more oxidized sulfur to their neighbors than they receive from them. Norway, Sweden, and Finland receive more oxidized sulfur from their neighbors than they release through their own borders (up to 70% of acid rain in these countries is the result of “export” from Great Britain and Germany). Transboundary transfer of acid precipitation is one of the reasons for the conflictual relationship between the United States and Canada.

Acid rain and its causes

The term "acid rain" refers to all types of meteorological precipitation - rain, snow, hail, fog, sleet - whose pH is less than the average pH of rainwater (the average pH for rainwater is 5.6). Standouts in the process human activity Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are transformed in the earth's atmosphere into acid-forming particles. These particles react with atmospheric water, turning it into acid solutions, which lower the pH of rainwater. The term “acid rain” was first coined in 1872 by English explorer Angus Smith. The Victorian smog in Manchester caught his attention. And although scientists of that time rejected the theory of the existence of acid rain, today no one doubts that acid rain is one of the causes of the death of life in water bodies, forests, crops, and vegetation. In addition, acid rain destroys buildings and cultural monuments, pipelines, renders cars unusable, reduces soil fertility and can lead to toxic metals leaking into aquifers.

The water of ordinary rain is also a slightly acidic solution. This happens due to the fact that natural substances atmospheres such as carbon dioxide (CO2) react with rainwater. This produces weak carbonic acid (CO2 + H2O = H2CO3). While ideally the pH of rainwater is 5.6-5.7, real life The acidity of rainwater in one area may differ from the acidity of rainwater in another area. This, first of all, depends on the composition of gases contained in the atmosphere of a particular area, such as sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxides.

Chemical analysis of acid precipitation shows the presence of sulfuric (H2SO4) and nitric (HNO3) acids. The presence of sulfur and nitrogen in these formulas indicates that the problem is associated with the release of these elements into the atmosphere. When fuel is burned, sulfur dioxide enters the air, and atmospheric nitrogen also reacts with atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen oxides are formed.

As already mentioned, any acidity level has a certain level rainwater. But in the normal case, this indicator corresponds to a neutral pH level - 5.6-5.7 or slightly higher. The slight acidity is due to the content in the air carbon dioxide, but is considered so low that it does not cause any harm to living organisms. Thus, the causes of acid rain are solely due to human activities and cannot be explained by natural causes.

Prerequisites for increasing the acidity of atmospheric water arise when industrial enterprises emit large volumes of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides. The most typical sources of such pollution are automobile exhaust gases, metallurgical production and thermal power plants(CHP). Unfortunately, modern level The development of purification technologies does not allow filtering out nitrogen and sulfur compounds that arise as a result of the combustion of coal, peat, and other types of raw materials that are used in industry. As a result, such oxides enter the atmosphere, combine with water as a result of reactions under the influence of sunlight, and fall to the ground in the form of precipitation, which is called “acid rain.”

Acid rain is one of the main threats of our time, resulting from economic activity person.

We have already touched on this topic in our material - ACID RAIN IS THE ENEMY OF ALL LIVING THINGS. In this article we will present several precise definitions given to this phenomenon in respected dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Acid rain is...

Dictionary COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

Acid rain, a term used to describe the deposition of chemical pollutants in the form of both particulate matter and acid rain, hail, snow or fog. Cars, processes industrial production, burning fossil fuels power stations create pollution mainly in the form of emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons that react with water and sunlight, forming weak sulfur or nitric acid, ammonium salts, as well as other mineral acids. All this is deposited on the ground, often at a great distance from the source of the release, causing corrosion, tree death, unwanted acidification of water and soil, and therefore a threat to human health. The degree of acidity is usually measured using the pH scale, a logarithmic system for measuring the concentration of hydrogen ions. The amplitude of values ​​is from 0 (maximum acidity) to 14 (maximum alkalinity). pH value = 5.6 corresponds to pure water.

Countries of the world. Dictionary. 1998

Peoples and cultures. Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia

Acid rain, chemical pollution water resources, flora and fauna, caused by the emission of exhaust gases as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels. The acidity of rain, snow and fog increases due to the absorption of exhaust gases, mainly sulfur and nitrogen oxides emitted by power plants, factories and by road transport. Cauldrons cause damage to human health, causing bronchial diseases, destroying limestone buildings, and increasing the acidity of lakes and rivers, which is fatal to fish, animals, vegetation, and forests. Acidic waters are also dangerous because they contain harmful metals, such as cadmium and mercury, which are usually retained in the soil. The alarm about the effects of KD was first raised in Sweden in the 1960s; from them, of course, it means that part of the forests of Europe, globally, suffered. Central, as well as S., E. and N.-E. USA and Japan. In 1984, pl. countries signed a protocol to the Geneva Convention on the Control of Air Pollution (1979), agreeing to reduce sulfur emissions, although the worst air polluters - the UK, the USA, Poland and Spain - did not sign on to this document. Significant reductions in sulfur emissions require the reconstruction or closure of coal-fired power plants. Reducing nitrogen oxide levels can be achieved by reducing the life and speed of passenger car and truck engines and equipping them with catalytic converters that remove most of this gas (and the hydrocarbons that contribute to education department) from automobile exhausts; since 1992, the installation of catalytic converters has been mandatory in European countries; in the US they have been widely used to control air pollution since the 1970s.

Peoples and cultures. Oxford Illustrated Encyclopedia. - M.: Infra-M. Edited by R. Hoggart. 2002

ACID RAIN (acid rain), characterized by an increased content of acids (mainly sulfuric acid); pH value<4,5. Образуются при взаимодействии атмосферной влаги с транспортно-промышленными выбросами (главным образом серы диоксид, а также азота оксиды и др.). Вредно действуют на здоровье людей, растительный и животный мир, сооружения и конструкции; закисляют почвы и водоемы. Распространены в промышленных районах США, стран Западной Европы, России и др. Кислотные загрязнения могут содержаться в других атмосферных осадках (снег, град и т.п.).

Modern encyclopedia. 2000

Ecological dictionary

Acid rain is rain caused by atmospheric pollution with sulfur dioxide (SO 2). They have a biocidal effect, in particular, the death of fish (for example, in the waters of Scandinavia due to the transfer of gas emissions in the industrial cities of England).

Ecological Dictionary. - Alma-Ata: “Science”. B.A. Bykov. 1983

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia

Acid rain is one of the types of intense environmental pollution, which is the precipitation of drops of sulfuric and nitric acids with rain, resulting from the reaction of sulfur and nitrogen oxides emitted into the air by industrial enterprises and transport with water droplets in the atmosphere. Acid droplets can be carried long distances by air currents before falling as acid rain. Acid rain causes great damage to forests, water bodies, crops, buildings, etc., and also adversely affects human health. Acid rain is heaviest in and near the world's most industrialized areas. In 1984, in the Black Forest (Germany), about half of the trees in the forests were damaged by acid rain. Significant damage to forests has also been observed in the northeastern states of the United States and Eastern Canada. To overcome the adverse effects of acid rain, national and international standards are being set to reduce nitrogen and sulfur emissions into the atmosphere.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Edited by Professor A.P. Gorkin. 2006

As we can see from the above definitions, acid rain is not a local problem of individual industrial areas of our planet. The damage caused by such rains is global in nature and requires appropriate global solutions. To be more precise - active global solutions, since such damage is often irreparable / irreparable.

Acid rain is usually called any precipitation (rain, snow, hail) containing any amount of acid. The presence of acids leads to a decrease in pH levels. pH value

Acid rain is usually called any precipitation (rain, snow, hail) containing any amount of acid. The presence of acids leads to a decrease in pH levels. Hydrogen index (pH) is a value that reflects the concentration of hydrogen ions in solutions. The lower the pH level, the more hydrogen ions in the solution, the more acidic the environment.

For rainwater, the average pH value is 5.6. When the pH of precipitation is less than 5.6, it is referred to as acid rain. Compounds that lead to a decrease in the pH level of sediments are oxides of sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen chloride and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Causes of acid rain

Acid rain, by nature of its origin, is of two types: natural (arising as a result of the activities of nature itself) and anthropogenic (caused by human activity).

Natural acid rain

There are few natural causes of acid rain:

activity of microorganisms. A number of microorganisms, in the process of their life activity, cause the destruction of organic substances, which leads to the formation of gaseous sulfur compounds, which naturally enter the atmosphere. The amount of sulfur oxides formed in this way is estimated at about 30-40 million tons per year, which is approximately 1/3 of the total amount;

Volcanic activity supplies another 2 million tons of sulfur compounds into the atmosphere. Together with volcanic gases, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, various sulfates and elemental sulfur enter the troposphere;

decomposition of nitrogen-containing natural compounds. Since all protein compounds are based on nitrogen, many processes lead to the formation of nitrogen oxides. For example, the breakdown of urine. It doesn't sound very pleasant, but that's life;

lightning discharges produce about 8 million tons of nitrogen compounds per year;

burning of wood and other biomass.

Anthropogenic acid rain

Since we are talking about anthropogenic impact, it doesn’t take much intelligence to guess that we are talking about the destructive influence of humanity on the state of the planet. A person is used to living in comfort, providing himself with everything he needs, but he’s not used to “cleaning up” after himself. Either he hasn’t grown out of the sliders yet, or he hasn’t matured in his mind.

The main cause of acid rain is air pollution. If about thirty years ago industrial enterprises and thermal power plants were named as global causes causing the appearance of compounds in the atmosphere that “oxidize” rain, today this list has been supplemented by road transport.

Thermal power plants and metallurgical enterprises “donate” about 255 million tons of sulfur and nitrogen oxides to nature.

Solid fuel rockets have also made and are making a significant contribution: the launch of one Shuttle complex results in the release of more than 200 tons of hydrogen chloride and about 90 tons of nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.

Anthropogenic sources of sulfur oxides are enterprises producing sulfuric acid and refining oil.

Exhaust gases from motor vehicles account for 40% of nitrogen oxides entering the atmosphere.

The main source of VOCs in the atmosphere, of course, are chemical industries, oil storage facilities, gas stations and gas stations, as well as various solvents used both in industry and in everyday life.

The final result is as follows: human activity supplies the atmosphere with more than 60% of sulfur compounds, about 40-50% of nitrogen compounds and 100% of volatile organic compounds.

From a chemical point of view, there is nothing complicated or incomprehensible about the formation of acid rain. Oxides entering the atmosphere react with water molecules, forming acids. Sulfur oxides, when released into the air, form sulfuric acid, and nitrogen oxides form nitric acid. One should also take into account the fact that the atmosphere above large cities always contains particles of iron and manganese, which act as catalysts for reactions. Since there is a water cycle in nature, water in the form of precipitation sooner or later falls on the earth. Acid also gets in with the water.

Consequences of acid rain

The term "acid rain" first appeared in the second half of the 19th century and was coined by British chemists working on the pollution of Manchester. He noticed that significant changes in the composition of rainwater are caused by vapors and smoke entering the atmosphere as a result of the activities of enterprises. As a result of the research, it was discovered that acid rain causes discoloration of fabrics, metal corrosion, destruction of building materials and leads to the death of vegetation.

It took nearly a hundred years before scientists around the world sounded the alarm about the harmful effects of acid rain. This problem was first raised in 1972 at the UN conference on the environment.

Oxidation of water resources. Rivers and lakes are the most sensitive. Fish die. Despite the fact that some species of fish can withstand slight acidification of water, they also die due to the loss of food resources. In those lakes where the pH level was less than 5.1, not a single fish was caught. This is explained not only by the fact that adult fish die - at a pH of 5.0, most cannot hatch fry from the eggs, which results in a reduction in the numerical and species composition of fish populations.

Harmful effects on vegetation. Acid rain affects vegetation directly and indirectly. The direct impact occurs in high mountain areas, where tree crowns are literally immersed in acidic clouds. Excessively acidic water destroys leaves and weakens plants. Indirect impact occurs due to a decrease in the level of nutrients in the soil and, as a result, an increase in the proportion of toxic substances.

Destruction of human creations. Building facades, cultural and architectural monuments, pipelines, cars - everything is exposed to acid rain. Many studies have been conducted, and they all say one thing: acid rain exposure has increased significantly over the past three decades. As a result, not only marble sculptures and stained glass windows of ancient buildings are under threat, but also leather and paper products of historical value.

Human health. Acid rain itself does not have a direct impact on human health - if you get caught in such rain or swim in a reservoir with acidified water, you do not risk anything. Compounds that form in the atmosphere due to the ingress of sulfur and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere pose a threat to health. The resulting sulfates are transported by air currents over considerable distances, are inhaled by many people, and, as studies show, provoke the development of bronchitis and asthma. Another point is that a person eats the gifts of nature; not all suppliers can guarantee the normal composition of food products.

Solving the problem

Since this problem is global in nature, it can only be solved together. The real solution will be to reduce emissions from enterprises, both into the atmosphere and into water. There are only two solutions: stopping the activities of enterprises or installing expensive filters. There is a third solution, but it is only in the future - the creation of environmentally friendly industries.

The words that every person should be aware of the consequences of their actions have long been set on edge. But you can’t argue with the fact that the behavior of society is made up of the behavior of individual individuals. The difficulty is that people are accustomed to separating themselves from humanity in environmental matters: the air is polluted by enterprises, toxic waste gets into the water due to unscrupulous firms and companies. They are them, and I am me.

Household aspects and individual solutions to the problem

Strictly follow the rules for disposing of solvents and other substances containing toxic and harmful chemical compounds.

Give up cars. Maybe? – hardly.

Not everyone can influence the installation of filters or the introduction of alternative production methods, but observing environmental culture and raising the younger generation to be environmentally literate and cultural is not only possible, it should become the norm of behavior for every person.

No one is surprised by the many books and films devoted to the results of man’s technogenic impact on nature. The films depict the dead surface of the planet, the struggle for survival and various mutant life forms in a colorful and frighteningly realistic manner. Fairy tale, fiction? - a very real prospect. Think about it, not so long ago space flights seemed like fiction, engineer Garin’s hyperboloid (modern laser systems) seemed like science fiction.

When thinking about the future of planet Earth, it is worth thinking not about what awaits humanity, but about the kind of world in which children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will live. Only personal interest can motivate a person to take real steps.

Acid rain is a serious environmental problem caused by environmental pollution. Their frequent appearance frightens not only scientists, but also ordinary people, because such precipitation can have a negative impact on human health. Acid rain is characterized by a low pH level. For normal precipitation, this figure is 5.6, and even a slight violation of the norm is fraught with serious consequences for living organisms caught in the affected area.

With a significant shift, the reduced level of acidity causes the death of fish, amphibians, and insects. Also, in the area where such precipitation is observed, you can notice acid burns on the leaves of trees and the death of some plants.

Negative consequences of acid rain also exist for humans. After a rainstorm, toxic gases accumulate in the atmosphere, and inhaling them is highly discouraged. A short walk in acid rain can cause asthma, heart and lung diseases.

Acid rain: causes and consequences

The problem of acid rain has long been global in nature, and every inhabitant of the planet should think about their contribution to this natural phenomenon. All harmful substances that enter the air during human activity do not disappear anywhere, but remain in the atmosphere and sooner or later return to the earth in the form of precipitation. Moreover, the consequences of acid rain are so serious that it sometimes takes hundreds of years to eliminate them.

In order to find out what the consequences of acid rain can be, you need to understand the very concept of the natural phenomenon in question. So scientists agree that this definition is too narrow to describe the global problem. Only rain cannot be taken into account - acid hail, fog and snow are also carriers of harmful substances, since the processes of their formation are largely identical. In addition, toxic gases or dust clouds may appear during dry weather. They are also a type of acid precipitation.

Causes of acid rain formation

The cause of acid rain lies largely in the human factor. Constant air pollution with acid-forming compounds (sulfur oxides, hydrogen chloride, nitrogen) leads to imbalance. The main “suppliers” of these substances into the atmosphere are large enterprises, in particular those working in the field of metallurgy, processing of oil-containing products, burning coal or fuel oil. Despite the availability of filters and cleaning systems, the level of modern technology still does not allow us to completely eliminate the negative impact of industrial waste.

Acid rain is also associated with an increase in vehicles on the planet. Exhaust gases, although in small proportions, also contain harmful acidic compounds, and in terms of the number of cars, the level of pollution becomes critical. Thermal power plants also contribute, as well as many household items, such as aerosols, cleaning products, etc.

In addition to human influence, acid rain can also occur due to some natural processes. Thus, their appearance is caused by volcanic activity, during which large amounts of sulfur are released. In addition, it produces gaseous compounds during the breakdown of certain organic substances, which also leads to air pollution.

How is acid rain formed?

All harmful substances released into the air react with solar energy, carbon dioxide or water, resulting in acidic compounds. Together with drops of moisture, they rise into the atmosphere and form clouds. As a result, acid rain occurs, snowflakes or hailstones form, which return all absorbed elements to the earth.

In some regions, deviations from the norm of 2-3 units were noticed: the permissible acidity level is 5.6 pH, but in China and the Moscow region there was precipitation with values ​​of 2.15 pH. At the same time, it is quite difficult to predict where exactly acid rain will appear, because the wind can carry the formed clouds quite far from the place of pollution.

Composition of acid rain

The main elements in acid rain are sulfuric and sulfurous acids, as well as ozone, which is formed during thunderstorms. There is also a nitrogen variety of sediments, in which the main core is nitric and nitrous acids. Less commonly, acid rain can be caused by high levels of chlorine and methane in the atmosphere. Also, other harmful substances can get into precipitation, depending on the composition of industrial and household waste that enters the air in a particular region.

Consequences: acid rain

Acid rain and its effects are a constant subject of observation for scientists around the world. Unfortunately, their forecasts are very disappointing. Precipitation with a low acidity level is dangerous for flora, fauna, and humans. In addition, they can lead to more serious environmental problems.

Once in the soil, acid rain destroys many nutrients that are necessary for plant growth. At the same time, they also draw toxic metals to the surface. Among them are lead, aluminum, etc. With a sufficiently concentrated acid content, precipitation leads to the death of trees, the soil becomes unsuitable for growing crops, and it takes years to restore it!

The same thing happens with reservoirs. The composition of acid rain disrupts the balance of the natural environment, which leads to the death of fish, as well as a slowdown in the growth of algae. Thus, an entire body of water may cease to exist for a long time.

Before reaching the ground, acid rain makes its way through air masses, leaving particles of toxic substances in the air. This has an extremely adverse effect on the health of animals and people, and also causes significant damage to buildings. Many paints and cladding materials, metal structures simply begin to dissolve when drops hit them! As a result, the appearance of a house, monument or car will be forever damaged.

Global environmental problems that can be caused by acid precipitation:

1. Changes in the ecosystem of water bodies, as a result - the death of their flora and fauna. Such sources cannot be used for drinking, since the content of heavy metals in them will be many times higher than the norm.
2. Significant damage to the foliage and roots of trees, which will deprive them of protection from frost and many diseases. The problem is especially pressing in the case of coniferous trees, which “keep awake” even in severe cold.
3. Contamination of soil with toxic substances. All plants located in the contaminated area of ​​soil will certainly weaken or die altogether. All harmful elements will arrive along with useful ones. Unfortunately, there will be very few of the latter left.

Effect of acid rain on humans

By studying acid precipitation, the causes and consequences of its fall, scientists care not only about nature, but also about human lives. The death of livestock, commercial fish, crops - all this significantly affects the standard of living and economic situation in any country.

If you forget for a while about damage to property or economic problems and think directly about health, then the picture also emerges as depressing. Any disease associated with the human respiratory system will worsen if the patient enters the affected area during or after acid rain.

Also dangerous are fish and animals that can be eaten, living in this area. They may contain toxic compounds of mercury, lead, manganese, and aluminum. Acid rain itself always contains heavy metal ions. When they enter the human body, they cause intoxication, serious kidney and liver diseases, blockage of nerve canals, and the formation of blood clots. Some of the effects of acid rain may take a generation to manifest themselves, so protecting yourself from toxic substances is also important for the sake of your descendants.

How to protect yourself from acid rain and prevent its occurrence

Today, the United States, Russia and China are at risk for acid rain. It is on the territory of these countries that the largest number of coal processing plants and metallurgical enterprises are located. However, danger also looms over Japan and Canada, where acid rain can simply be blown by the wind. According to some studies, if preventive measures are not taken, this list will be supplemented by dozens more countries in the very near future.

It is practically useless to combat the problem of acid rain locally. To change the situation for the better, comprehensive measures are required, which are only possible through the interaction of several states. Scientists continue to work on new purification systems, trying to minimize the release of harmful substances into the atmosphere, however, the percentage of acid precipitation is only increasing.

To protect yourself from the negative effects of acid rain, be sure to use an umbrella and raincoat in wet weather. The worst thing is for drops to get on exposed skin. It should be understood that it is impossible to distinguish acid rain from normal rain with the naked eye, so precautions must be taken at all times.

If you hear that acid precipitation will fall in your region, then try not to go outside at the indicated time. Also, stay at home for a few hours after rain, snow or hail, tightly closing windows and doors to prevent toxic substances in the air from entering the room.

Publication date 05/22/2011 18:35

Acid rain is one of the terms that industrialization brought to humanity. The indefatigable consumption of the planet's resources, the huge scale of fuel combustion, and environmentally imperfect technologies are clear signs of the rapid development of industry, which is ultimately accompanied by chemical pollution of water, air and land. Acid rain is just one manifestation of such pollution.

First mentioned back in 1872, The concept became truly relevant only in the second half of the 20th century. Currently, acid rain is a problem for many countries around the world, including the United States and almost all European countries. The Acid Rain Map, developed by environmentalists around the world, clearly shows the areas at highest risk of hazardous precipitation.

Causes of acid rain

All rainwater has a certain level of acidity.. But in the normal case, this indicator corresponds to a neutral pH level - 5.6-5.7 or slightly higher. The slight acidity is due to the carbon dioxide content in the air, but is considered so low that it does not cause any harm to living organisms. Thus, the causes of acid rain are solely due to human activities and cannot be explained by natural causes.

Preconditions for increasing the acidity of atmospheric water arise when industrial enterprises emit large volumes of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides. The most typical sources of such pollution are vehicle exhaust gases, metallurgical production and thermal power plants (CHP). Unfortunately, the current level of development of purification technologies does not allow filtering out nitrogen and sulfur compounds that arise as a result of the combustion of coal, peat, and other types of raw materials used in industry. As a result, such oxides enter the atmosphere, combine with water as a result of reactions under the influence of sunlight, and fall to the ground in the form of precipitation, which is called “acid rain.”

Consequences of acid rain

Scientists note that the consequences of acid rain are very multidimensional and dangerous for both people, animals and plants. Among the main ones, experts name the following effects:

1. Acid rain significantly increases the acidity of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, as a result of which their natural flora and fauna are gradually dying out. As a result of changes in the ecosystem of water bodies, they become swamped, clogged, and have increased silt. In addition, as a result of such processes, water becomes unsuitable for human use. It increases the content of heavy metal salts and various toxic compounds, which under normal conditions are absorbed by the microflora of the reservoir.
2. Acid rain leads to forest degradation and plant extinction. Coniferous trees are especially affected, since the slow renewal of foliage does not give them the opportunity to independently eliminate the effects of acid rain. Young forests are also very susceptible to such precipitation, the quality of which is rapidly declining. With constant exposure to water with high acidity, trees die.
3. In the USA and Europe acid rain is one of the common causes of poor harvests, extinction of agricultural crops over vast areas. Moreover, the reason for such damage lies both in the direct effect that acid rain has on plants and in disturbances in soil mineralization.
4. Acid rain causes irreparable damage to architectural monuments, buildings, and structures. The action of such precipitation causes accelerated corrosion of metals and failure of mechanisms.
5. With the current acidity that acid rain has, in some cases it can cause direct harm to humans and animals. First of all, people in high-risk areas suffer from upper respiratory tract diseases. However, the day is not far off when the saturation of harmful substances in the atmosphere will reach a level at which sufficiently high concentrations of sulfuric and nitrate acid will fall out in the form of precipitation. In such a situation, the threat to human health will be significantly higher.

How to deal with acid rain?

It is almost impossible to deal with precipitation itself. Falling over vast areas, acid rain causes significant damage, and there is no constructive solution to this problem.