| Acid rain is relatively unseen and hard to detect, but it | | | | corroded by acid rain. In addition, other objects can be |
| is a widespread serious problem that probably affects | | | | affected such as bridges, underground pipes, and |
| the area where you live today. Acid rain is defined as | | | | artwork on historical buildings. - Currently, both the |
| rain that has a higher acidic content than normal due to | | | | railway and airline industries have to be diligent to repair |
| unnatural (human produced) processes. The severity | | | | the corrosive damage done by acid rain. - Humans can |
| of the problem in your area depends on factors | | | | become seriously ill and can even die from the effects |
| ranging from how close you are to conventional | | | | of acid rain because it can cause respiratory problems, |
| coal-fired power plants, how much rainfall there is total, | | | | particularly in those who are already vulnerable such |
| and upper and lower atmosphere wind currents. If only | | | | as people with asthma. Acid rain is caused by smoke |
| the effects of acid rain were as innocuous as the | | | | and gases that are given off by factories and cars. |
| definition! In North America, for example, the problem | | | | Simply put, the pollutants in the exhaust go into the |
| has progressed so that rainwater can have anywhere | | | | atmosphere, and become acid that comes back down |
| from 1000% to 7000% too much acid content. | | | | mixed with rain. A great deal of acid rain is produced |
| Standing water, where some evaporation has | | | | when coal is burned to produce electricity. There are |
| occurred, or water that has been absorbed and | | | | ways to clean the coal, called clean coal technology, |
| filtered by the soil can have an even larger acid | | | | but these methods are expensive and would probably |
| content. Rainwater that is too acidic can cause many | | | | require government subsidies or new technological |
| types of problem, such as: - Acid rain can defoliate | | | | breakthroughs to be viable. Anyone can help reduce |
| trees (making them lose their leaves or needles). This | | | | the problem of acid rain. You can write to your |
| can eventually lead to the tree dying if there is no | | | | government official to promote clean coal technology, |
| intervention. Trees can also suffer from stunted | | | | you can invest in companies that are developing new |
| growth, and become weakened so that they are | | | | fossil fuel-free cars, such as fuel cell and electric cars. |
| vulnerable to weather, disease, and insects. - When | | | | But most importantly, you can reduce your own |
| lakes are seriously damaged by acid rain fish die off, | | | | consumption of electricity that is produced from coal, |
| birds die from eating "toxic" fish, and humans cannot | | | | drive your gas-fueled car less often, and reduce your |
| swim in them - Buildings and other structures can be | | | | own acid rain footprint to make a real difference. |