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