The increasing concern in modern society is the impact of acid rain on the environment. Pollution from different sources has led to significant emissions of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere, causing an increase in acid levels in the air. When sulphuric acid combines with moisture, it forms acid rain which can cause substantial damage to the external environment. Acid rain affects lakes, air quality, and ecosystems negatively. One consequence is the destruction of lakes as it lowers pH levels and reduces organisms in freshwater bodies. Normally water should have a neutral pH close to seven; however, acidic lakes can have pH levels as low as four. These highly acidic conditions contain over ten percent more acid than regular rainfall and one thousand times more acid than neutral water. Over time, Ontario's lakes have become significantly more acidi
...c with pH levels becoming ten times more acidic each decade. High acidity also results in declining fish populations and physical deformities such as twisted backbones, flattened heads, and abnormally curved tails for fish affected by acid rain (Howard & Perley, 1980).These fish species, including rock bass, pumpkinseed, and lake herring, face the risk of infertility and potential extinction due to the discharge of mercury into water. This metal accumulates in their blood and tissues as a result, similar to how sulphur dioxide in rain leads to high concentrations of this metal. The negative impacts of acid rain extend beyond aquatic ecosystems as it deteriorates air quality and reduces pH levels in both air and water bodies. In regions dominated by acidic air masses, pH levels can drop as low as three, creating a yellow-grey haze known as photochemical
smog. This smog not only poses health risks for respiratory diseases and crop damage but also contributes to the disintegration of the ozone layer (Howard & Perley 1980,p.44). Additionally, excessive release of sulphur dioxide from this smog is causing holes in the ozone layer by overwhelming nutrient neutralizing capacity. Environmental degradation caused by acid rain results in decreased pH levels, formation of photochemical smog, and ozone depletion leading to erosion within the ecosystem. As soil becomes more acidic inhibiting carbon dioxide respiration process ,the ecosystem experiences erosion when soil becomes more acidic inhibiting carbon dioxide respiration process Consequently decreases photosynthesis in plants hindered by the decrease in pH levels caused by acid rain since they require carbon dioxide for this process (Howard & Perley 1980,p.44). Furthermore,the separation of nutrients like aluminum due to soil erosion further decreases plant production within the ecosystemIn addition, acid rain causes oligotrophication in the soil by diminishing the capability of the biological community to neutralize acid ions. This results in an expedited deterioration of natural processes and hampers their ability to counteract acidity. Moreover, trees and plants' lifespan is also disrupted by acid rain.
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