Table of Contents
What does acid rain contaminate?
As it flows through the soil, acidic rain water can leach aluminum from soil clay particles and then flow into streams and lakes. The more acid that is introduced to the ecosystem, the more aluminum is released. Some types of plants and animals are able to tolerate acidic waters and moderate amounts of aluminum.
Does acid rain contaminate drinking water?
When rain is acidic, it affects trees, lakes, buildings and agricultural land. Sometimes rain is not very acidic and does not cause a lot of problems, but when it is acidic, it can be very harmful to the environment. Drinking water which has been contaminated with acid rain can cause brain damage over time.
How does acid rain affect bacteria?
The decrease in MBC and MBN indicated that acid rain reduced the soil microbial population, while the decrease in AWCD revealed that acid rain had a negative effect on soil bacterial metabolic function. The decrease in soil nutrient was the major reason for the change of soil microbial functions.
What are the possible reason and effects of acid rain?
Power plants release the majority of sulfur dioxide and much of the nitrogen oxides when they burn fossil fuels, such as coal, to produce electricity. In addition, the exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses releases nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide into the air. These pollutants cause acid rain.
Does acid rain cause greenhouse effect?
Effects of acid rain Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are not primary greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, one of the main effects of climate change; in fact, sulfur dioxide has a cooling effect on the atmosphere.
Which species of bacteria can be used to control soil pollution due to acid rain?
When it rains, water droplets react with these gases, forming acids. These acids cause contamination of soil. Bacteria like Acidobacillus ferroxidens and Acidophillium species control soil and groundwater contamination.
Why is acid rain bad for the environment?
Acid rain makes such waters more acidic, which results in more aluminum absorption from soil, which is carried into lakes and streams. That combination makes waters toxic to crayfish, clams, fish, and other aquatic animals.
Is acid rain harmful to fish?
When scientists learned that acid rain could harm fish, fear of damage to our natural environment from acid rain concerned the American public. Research by USGS scientists and other groups began to show that the processes resulting in acid rain are very… The USGS produces many types of multimedia products.
What are the main sources of pollutants that trigger acid rain?
The main sources of pollutants that trigger acid rain are vehicles and industrial and power-generating plants. The areas of greatest acidity are in the northeastern United States. This pattern of high acidity is caused by the large number of cities, the dense population, and the concentration of power and industrial plants in the Northeast.
Is rain water acidic or basic?
Well, plain distilled water, like that used in laboratories, is neutral (not acidic or basic). Since rain naturally has things dissolved in it, it will always be slightly acidic. However, when rain reacts with certain air pollutants, such as sulfur or nitrogen oxides, the water vapor converts into very diluted forms of sulfuric or nitric acids.