EGEE 102 Energy Conservation

And Environmental Protection

Acid Rain

What is Acid rain?

http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/index.html#what
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Acidity- pH Scale

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Sources of SO2
Emissions in 1992

Totalemissions22.7Milliontonsin1992
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Sources of NOx- 23.2 M

tons in 1992

On a global scale, agricultural practices contribute

approximately 70 percent
of anthropogenic
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Effects of Acid Rain

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Regions Affected
Several regions in the U.S. were identified as
containing many of the surface waters sensitive to
acidification. They include
the Adirondacks and Catskill Mountains in New York
state,
the mid-Appalachian highlands along the east coast,
the upper Midwest, and mountainous areas of the
Western United States.
In areas like the Northeastern United States, where
soil buffering capacity is poor, some lakes now have
a pH value of less than 5. One of the most acidic
lakes reported is Little Echo Pond in Franklin, New
York. Little Echo Pond has a pH of 4.2.

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Effect on Aquatic Life

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Effect on Materials
Acid rain and the dry deposition of
acidic particles contribute to the
corrosion of metals (such as bronze)
and the deterioration of paint and
stone (such as marble and limestone).
These effects seriously reduce the
value to society of buildings, bridges,
cultural objects (such as statues,
monuments, and tombstones), and
cars
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An example of acid precipitation damage to an outdoor statue. The statue, made of porous sandstone, was created in 1702 as
part of the gable of the entrance of the Castle at Herten, near Reclinhausen, Germany. The left photo, taken in 1908, shows
some stains and the loss of the left hand, but most of the face and right hand were intact after 206 years of exposure. The
right photo, taken in 1969, shows the loss of most of the detail of the statue over 61 years

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Visibility
Sulfates and nitrates
that form in the
atmosphere from sulfur
dioxide (SO2) and
nitrogen oxides (NOx)
emissions contribute to
visibility impairment,
meaning we can't see
as far or as clearly
through the air. Sulfate
particles account for 50
to 70 percent of the
visibility reduction

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Human Health
Elevated levels of fine
particles increase
illness and premature
death from heart and
lung disorders, such
as asthma and
bronchitis.
reducing the nitrogen
oxides available to
react with volatile
organic compounds
and form ozone

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Individual Action
Turn off lights, computers, and other appliances when you're
not using them
Use energy efficient appliances: lighting, air conditioners,
heaters, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.
Only use electric appliances when you need them.
Keep your thermostat at 68 F in the winter and 72 F in the
summer. You can turn it even lower in the winter and higher in
the summer when you are away from home.
Insulate your home as best you can.
Carpool, use public transportation, or better yet, walk or
bicycle whenever possible
Buy vehicles with low NOx emissions, and maintain all vehicles
well.

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EPAs Action
EPA's Acid Rain Program limits, or
"caps," sulfur dioxide (SO2)
emissions from power plants at
8.95 million tons annually, allows
those plants to trade SO2
allowances, and reduces nitrogen
oxide emission rates.

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Resources
http://www.epa.gov/air/acidrain/
http://www.epa.gov/air/visibility/

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