Acid Rain and Air Pollution

A presentation created for college Ecology subject. This presentation is about acid rain, how it is formed, and how to prevent it from happening. It also includes information about air pollution, its causes and effects.

1. Acid Rain & Urban Air Pollution Report by: Veronica Baje

2. Objectives Define acid rain and air pollution. Understand what causes acid rain and air pollution. Differentiate the types of pollutants. Learn the acid rain pathway. Identify the forms of acid rain. Learn the measurement of acid rain. Know the effects of acid rain and air pollution. Find ways on how to prevent acid rain and air pollution.

3. Course Outline Acid rain Causes of acid rain Acid rain pathway Forms of acid deposition Measuring acid rain Air Pollution Types of pollutants Causes of air pollution Effects of air pollution Solutions for air pollution

4. Acid Rain Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that is acidic.

5. Causes of Acid Rain Burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity.  Two thirds of SO 2  and one fourth of NO X  in the atmosphere come from electric power generators. Vehicles and heavy equipment. Manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries.

6. Acid Rain Pathway Emission of SO2 and NO4 are released into the air. Pollutants are transformed into acid particles that may be transported long distances. The acid particles fall to the earth as wet and dry depositions. Causes harmful effects on soil, forests, streams, and lakes.

7. Forms of Acid Deposition Wet Deposition – is what we most commonly think of as acid rain. The sulfuric and nitric acids formed in the atmosphere fall to the ground mixed with rain, snow, fog, or hail. Dry Deposition – the acidic particles and gases may deposit to surfaces (water bodies, vegetation, buildings) quickly or may react during atmospheric transport to form larger particles that can be harmful to human health

8. Measuring Acid Rain Acidity and alkalinity are measured using a pH scale for which 7.0 is neutral. The lower a substance's pH (less than 7), the more acidic it is; the higher a substance's pH (greater than 7), the more alkaline it is. Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6; it is slightly acidic because carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves into it forming weak carbonic acid. Acid rain usually has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4.

9. Air Pollution Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air that are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole.

10. Types of Pollutants Primary air pollutants – can be caused by primary sources or secondary sources. The pollutants that are a direct result of the process can be called primary pollutants. A classic example of a primary pollutant would be the sulfur-dioxide emitted from factories. Secondary pollutants – are the ones that are caused by the inter mingling and reactions of primary pollutants. Smog created by the interactions of several primary pollutants is known to be as secondary pollutant.

11. Causes of Air Pollution Burning of fossil fuels. Agricultural activities. Exhausts from factories and industries. Mining operations. Indoor air pollution.

12. Effects of Air Pollution Respiratory and heart problems. Global warming. Acid rain. Eutrophication. Destruction of wildlife habitat. Depletion of ozone layer.

13. Solutions for Air Pollution Use public mode of transportation. Conserve energy. Understand the concept of reduce, reuse, recycle. Emphasis on clean energy resources. Use energy efficient devices.