Air Pollution and its Harmful Effects :: Papers

Air Pollution and its Harmful set upAir Pollution, addition of harmful substances to the atmosphere resulting in distress to the environment, gay health, and quality of life. (Encarta Air Pollution) Damage may be quite an understatement on this topic. I believe that mass extinction might be to a greater extent than damaging to the quality of life. I seem to be jumping the sub here but as you will see cinch defilement is a very vitriolic environmental concern. In the United States alone, air pollution has been a serious environmental and public health line since the early part of the 1900s. sharp rainwaterfall, Ozone Depletion, Smog, and Global Warming are in all the result of air pollution. This could possibly be the single most devastate factor in the dissipation of our Eco-system, as we know it.Acid Rain is a term that consists of sharp rain, snow, fog, and particles. It is caused by sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides released by power plants vehicles and other source s such as gasses, and oils. (EPA Acid Rain) Acid rain effects trees, soil, farms, and surface waters. When the acid in rain comes in pass with an object it immediately starts a chemical reaction. A pH scale of measurement measures the acidity level of a substance in numerical order, 0-14, 0 being pure acid, 7.5 the most neutral point, and 14 being the highest alkalinity. (Encarta Acid Rain pg. 2) Acid rain eats away at the nutrients in the topsoil needed by plants and wildlife. The soils natural alkaline hatful sometimes neutralize the acid, but in places where the soil is thin the alkalinity is poor. In Vermont we fix low alkalinity because our land is mostly comprised of granite. (Encarta Acid Rain pg. 2) Trees and plants are also at risk because of the acidic soil. It slows tree harvest-feast, as well as eats holes through the vulnerable leaves. Once acid and the metals they dissolve counterbalance trees, they are more susceptible to other harms like insects, drought, and cold weather. (Encarta) high elevations are at more risk because they are closer to the deadly clouds. (Encarta Acid Rain pg. 2) In the worst cases trees have physical damage to the roots and leaves, reduced canopy cover, crown dieback, a reduced growth rate and finally whole tree death. (EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN ON TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS) Crops are generally less at risk to acid rain than trees. Most farms are in thick topsoil conditions where alkalines can neutralize the acid.