Introduction to

Acid Rain and Its Impact

Presented By: Suman Maharjan Sumit Shah Utsav Ashish Koju Yuvraj Pandey Prepared By: BEX:-A9 Roll no. 38,39,42,43

Objectives

What is acid rain? How do we know if the rain is acid? What causes acid rain (chemical reactions)? Where do the acid rain precursors come from? How does acid rain affect the environment? What can we do to protect our planet form acid rain?

Presentation Outline
Introduction to Acid Rain Sources Impact Solution Conclusion Recommendation References

Introduction to Acid Rain

Precipitated rain which is unusually acidic. Posses low level of pH Caused by mixture of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides with water

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Reacts with sunlight and ozone; nitric (HNO3), and sulphuric acid (H2SO4) are produced

It is dissolved in the moisture in the atmosphere making

2H+ and SO42
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Some falls back to Earth close to the source as dry particles, gas and aerosols (dry deposition)

and can be carried large distances before falling as rain or snow (wet deposition)

Introduction to Sox

Sox Compounds of sulfur and oxygen molecules

Produced by burning fuels containing sulfur or natural sources such as volcanoes Causes adverse impacts to vegetation including forest and agricultural crops

Damages freshwater lake and stream ecosystems by lowering the pH of the water
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Introduction to Nox
Nox Compounds of nitrogen and oxygen molecules

Produced by burning fuels containing nitrogen, primarily coal or heavy oil and hightemperature oxidation of the molecular nitrogen in the air Destroys ozone in the stratosphere causing damage to life on Earth Causes respiratory diseases like emphysema, bronchitis
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The Present day Truth

Source: Columbia University survey 2004

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The Present Day Truth

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SOURCES

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Causes of Acid Rain

Fossil fuel combustion Vehicle Emission Industrial Emission Coal Power Plant

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Caused by Fossil Fuel

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Fossil fuels are the natural resources which take millions of years for its formation. Giga-tons of fossil fuels are used yearly and only about the half part of it is absorbed by our atmosphere.

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By Vehicle Emission
Burning petrol and oil in vehicle engines gives off nitrogen oxide. releases harmful gases like sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide from vehicles.

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By industrial Emission
Industries are main source of environmental pollution They give rise to the level of sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen in environment.

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Coal Power Plant

Burning coal. Oil and natural gas in power stations gives off sulphur dioxide gas. These gases mix with water vapour and rainwater in the atmosphere producing weak solutions of sulphuric and nitric acids which fall as acid rain.

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IMPACT

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Impact of Acid Rain

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On the plant On the aquatic On animals and birds. On human beings. On the constructions

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Impact of Acid rain on aquatic life

Aluminum concentration increases due to acid rain. The acidic water damages gills of fish Acidity in water also damages the aquatic plants Decline in population of aquatic life

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Impacts of Acid rain on Plants

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Acidic rain of pH 4.6 damages Seedlings Aluminum toxicity decline absorbing capacity of roots Amount of chlorophyll declines affecting photosynthesis of plants
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Impacts of Acid rain on Monuments

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Monuments are eroded Limestone and sandstone corrodes due to sulfur

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Impact of Acid rain on Animal and Birds

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results in laying defective and porous egg Affects in food chain Acidity in drinking water affects health of animals and birds

Fig: Food Chain All animals rely on one another by one way or the other and death of one species brings adverse effect to the other.

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Impact on Human Beings

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Various skin diseases Respiratory diseases such as asthma due inhale of sulfur content. Asthma, along with dry coughs, headaches, and throat irritations can be caused by the sulphur dioxides and nitrogen oxides from acid rain. Contamination of water resources also effects human health
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REMEDIAL MEASURES

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Solution to Check Acid rain

Sulphur dioxide can be removed from power stations chimneys but this process is expensive. Reduce the amount of electricity Use of Hydropower, wind power, solar panels, tidal power than diesel power plants.

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Solution to check Acid Rain [contd]

Fit catalytic converters to vehicle exhaust. Limit the number of PRIVATE vehicles on the roads and increase PUBLIC transport. Strict Law enforcement

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CONCLUSION

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Results And Conclusion

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Acid rain remains an acute problem in many parts of the world and is threatened by the rapid industrial development Possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH) and can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructures Caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which react with the water molecules of rain water in the atmosphere to produce acids One of the major environmental problems, affecting the planet, that needs to and can be controlled by various ways
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Recommendation

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Recommendation

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The gases should be treated before emission in power plant and brick factories Scrubber should be used to minimize the vehicle emission Industries should be compelled to treat their waste before throwing them out to atmosphere Strict Government Laws should be passed and regular monitoring should be done.
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Thank You
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