Acid+Rain



Acid rain is a serious environmental problem that affects large parts of the United States and Canada. Acid rain is particularly damaging to lakes, streams, and forests and the plants and animals that live in these ecosystems.In addition to national monuments, buildings, and bridges. This Web site provides information about the following:

**Please stop plagiarizing! I know some of this came from the Alabama State Water Program! Please fix what you have stolen!**

Acid rain is a broad term referring to a mixture of wet and dry deposition (deposited material) from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. Wet deposition is when solid particles are dissolved into rain or mist and return back to the ground via precipitation. The precursors, or chemical forerunners, of acid rain formation result from both natural sources, such as volcanoes and decaying vegetation, and man-made sources, primarily emissions of [|sulfur dioxide] and [|nitrogen oxides (NOx)] resulting from fossil fuel combustion. In the United States, roughly 2/3 of all SO2 and 1/4 of all NOx come from electric power generation that relies on burning fossil fuels, like coal. Yet, electric power generation is not the only source using coal combustion. NOx comes from both coal combustion and automobile traffic. Globally, emissions of SOx and NOx are 104 billion kg and 51.4 billion kg respectively. Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released from power plants and other sources, prevailing winds blow these compounds across state and national borders, and even hundreds miles.



The above map illustrates the measured pH of rain across the United States. Since acid rain exists due the abundance of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide within our atmosphere, the higher acidity on the East Coast is the effects of coal combustion which is more prevalent on this side of the country.

Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to the damage of trees at high elevations (for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet) and many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our nation's cultural heritage. Prior to falling to the earth, sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) gases and their particulate matter derivatives—sulfates and nitrates—contribute to visibility degradation and harm public health.

Acid rain is measured using a scale called "pH." The lower a substance's pH, the more acidic it is. Pure water has a pH of 7.0. Normal rain is slightly acidic because carbon dioxide dissolves into it, so it has a pH of about 5.6. All sea life will die if the pH goes below 4.5, that includes animals like frogs and insects that live around the water. Fresh water shrimp die when the pH becomes 6.0. Aquatic plants will grow the best when the pH is between 7-9.2. As of the year 2000, the most acidic rain fall in the US has a pH of about 4.3.
 * How Do We Measure Acid Rain?**

History
The first example of acid rain that was recorded was the effect of acid rain on marble statues, which was noted in the 17th century by John Evelyn. Since the industrial revolution, emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides to the atmosphere have increased, causing the higher occurrence of acid rain. Since the advent of Clean Coal Technology (CCT), SOx has been dramatically reduced, and NOx has decreased.

Acid rain is very harmful to the environment. It does not damage immediately, but rather it the damages take affect over a period of time. It affects life in the water as well as on land. One way is by dissolving the shells of marine life.It could almost be worse for the aquatic life because the fish need water to breathe and if it is too polluted the fish end up getting sick and die. If acid rain becomes more of a problem then all the sea life will eventually be gone. Of 202 lakes that were studied in the early 1980's only 33% of them have become less acidic. Trees are also damaged by acid rain. Forrest in Germany are reported to be dining because of the acid rain harm. The wax outer coating that protects the leaves are becoming damaged. This allows the acid to seep into the tree. This prevents the plant from taking in carbon dioxide to perform photosynthesis. This also makes it harder for trees to withstand the cold. Soil is also harmed from acid rain, because it leaches valuable nutrients from the soil and leaves aluminum which is harmful to trees. When toxic metals such as lead, zinc, copper, chromium, and aluminum are deposits from acid rain it is believed to stunt tree and plant growth along with mosses, algae, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and fungi that are needed to help the forest grow. It leaches nutrients out of the soils making trees susceptible to insect infestation, disease, and winter injury. The damages it has on the air effects our health. Breathing problems such as asthma is linked to acid air pollution. Acid rain is also linked to premature deaths. If we see acid rain decrease we will see health problems decrease as well.
 * Damages**

Acid rain dissolves magnesium and calcium carbonate. Therefore, the calcium carbonate in marble is broken down, resulting in damage to many different landmarks. Acid rain can damage non-living things such as buildings, roads, statues, and bridges. It decays building materials and paints. It is a sad cost when acid rain damages non-replaceable buildings, statues and sculptures that are part of our nation's memories. Acid rain is responsible for destroying many ancient statues and buildings built by ancient Mediterranean civilizations. Even natural rock formations like the Islands of Vietnam and Thailand, which are made of Limestone.

The table above shows that the biggest air pollutant that mobile sources contribute to acid rain is carbon monoxide. 81% of carbon monoxide comes from mobile sources. The second biggest source is particulate matter, which is little particles of pollution that are released into the air by cars, trucks and buses that burn diesel fuel.
 * **Air Pollutant** || **% that mobile sources contribute to acid rain** || **% that other sources contribute to acid rain** ||
 * Volatile organic compound || 37% || 63% ||
 * Nitrogen oxide || 49% || 51% ||
 * Carbon monoxide || 81% || 19% ||
 * Particulate matter || 27% || 73% ||

__**What can we do?**__
 * Run the dishwasher with a full load.
 * Run the washing machine with a full load.
 * Turn off the light in empty rooms.
 * Turn off the water heater if you are gone for a long period of time.
 * Do not use your conditioner as much.
 * Install fluorescent light bulbs.
 * Reduce, reuse and recycle.
 * Do not burn a fire as often as you usually do.
 * Keep pool covers on pools when they are not in use.
 * Walk, ride a bike or take a bus or a train.
 * Car-pool.
 * Try ethanol, propane or natural gas.
 * Make sure vehicle's air condition system does not leaks.

Effects of Acid Rain:
Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees at high elevations (for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet) and many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our nation's cultural heritage. Prior to falling to the earth, SO2 and NOx gases and their particulate matter derivatives, sulfates and nitrates, contribute to visibility degradation and harm public health.

What Society Can Do About Acid Deposition: There are several ways to reduce acid deposition, more properly called acid deposition, ranging from societal changes to individual action. Understand acid deposition's causes and effects To understand acid deposition's causes and effects and track changes in the environment, scientists from EPA, state governments, and academic study acidification processes. They collect air and water samples and measure them for various characteristics like pH and chemical composition, and they research the effects of acid deposition on human-made materials such as marble and bronze. Finally, scientists work to understand the effects of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) - the pollutants that cause acid deposition and fine particles - on human health. To solve the acid rain problem, people need to understand how acid rain causes damage to the environment. They also need to understand what changes could be made to the air pollution sources that cause the problem. The answers to these questions help leaders make better decisions about how to control air pollution and therefore how to reduce - or even eliminate - acid rain. Since there are many solutions to the acid rain problem, leaders have a choice of which options or combination of options are best. The next section describes some of the steps that can be taken to reduce, or even eliminate, the acid deposition problem.

Clean up smokestacks and exhaust pipes:
Almost all of the electricity that powers modern life comes from burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil. acid deposition is caused by two pollutants that are released into the atmosphere, or emitted, when these fuels are burned: sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).Coal accounts for most US sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) emissions and a large portion of NOx emissions. Sulfur is present in coal as an impurity, and it reacts with air when the coal is burned to form SO 2. In contrast, NOx is formed when any fossil fuel is burned.There are several options for reducing SO 2 emissions, including using coal containing less sulfur, washing the coal, and using devices called scrubbers to chemically remove the SO2 from the gases leaving the smokestack. Power plants can also switch fuels; for example burning natural gas creates much less SO 2 than burning coal. Certain approaches will also have additional benefits of reducing other pollutants such as mercury and carbon dioxide. Understanding these "co-benefits" has become important in seeking cost-effective air pollution reduction strategies. Finally, power plants can use technologies that don't burn fossil fuels. Each of these options has its own costs and benefits, however; there is no single universal solution.Similar to scrubbers on power plants, catalytic converters reduce NOx emissions from cars. These devices have been required for over twenty years in the US, and it is important to keep them working properly and tailpipe restrictions have been tightened recently. EPA has also made, and continues to make, changes to gasoline that allows it to burn cleaner.

Use alternative energy sources:
There are other sources of electricity besides fossil fuels. They include: nuclear power, hydro power, wind energy, geothermal energy, and solar energy. Of these, nuclear and hydro power are used most widely; wind, solar, and geothermal energy have not yet been harnessed on a large scale in this country.There are also alternative energies available to power automobiles, including natural gas powered vehicles, battery-powered cars, fuel cells, and combinations of alternative and gasoline powered vehicles.All sources of energy have environmental costs as well as benefits. Some types of energy are more expensive to produce than others, which means that not all Americans can afford all types of energy. Nuclear power, hydro power, and coal are the cheapest forms today, but changes in technologies and environmental regulations may shift that in the future. All of these factors must be weighed when deciding which energy source to use today and which to invest in for tomorrow.

Restore a damaged environment:
Acid deposition penetrates deeply into the fabric of an ecosystem, changing the chemistry of the soil as well as the chemistry of the streams and narrowing, sometimes to nothing, the space where certain plants and animals can survive. Because there are so many changes, it takes many years for ecosystems to recover from acid deposition, even after emissions are reduced and the rain becomes normal again. For example, while the visibility might improve within days, and small or episodic chemical changes in streams improve within months, chronically acidified lakes, streams, forests, and soils can take years to decades or even centuries (in the case of soils) to heal.However, there are some things that people do to bring back lakes and streams more quickly. Limestone or lime (a naturally-occurring basic compound) can be added to acidic lakes to "cancel out" the acidity. This process, called liming, has been used extensively in Norway and Sweden but is not used very often in the United States. Liming tends to be expensive, has to be done repeatedly to keep the water from returning to its acidic condition, and is considered a short-term remedy in only specific areas rather than an effort to reduce or prevent pollution. Furthermore, it does not solve the broader problems of changes in soil chemistry and forest health in the watershed, and does nothing to address visibility reductions, materials damage, and risk to human health. However, liming does often permit fish to remain in a lake, so it allows the native population to survive in place until emissions reductions reduce the amount of acid deposition in the area.

Look to the future:
As emissions from the largest known sources of acid deposition - power plants and automobiles-are reduced, EPA scientists and their colleagues must assess the reductions to make sure they are achieving the results Congress anticipated. If these assessments show that acid deposition is still harming the environment, Congress may begin to consider additional ways to reduce emissions that cause acid deposition. They may consider additional emissions reductions from sources that have already been controlled, or methods to reduce emissions from other sources. They may also invest in energy efficiency and alternative energy. The cutting edge of protecting the environment from acid deposition will continue to develop and implement cost-effective mechanisms to cut emissions and reduce their impact on the environment.**//Take action as individuals.//** It may seem like there is not much that one individual can do to stop acid deposition. However, like many environmental problems, acid deposition is caused by the cumulative actions of millions of individual people. Therefore, each individual can also reduce their contribution to the problem and become part of the solution. One of the first steps is to understand the problem and its solutions.Individuals can contribute directly by conserving energy, since energy production causes the largest portion of the acid deposition problem. For example, you can:
 * 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..

"Acid rain" is a broad term referring to a mixture of wet and dry deposition (deposited material) from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. Wet deposition is when solid particles are dissolved into rain or mist and return back to the ground via precipitation. The precursors, or chemical forerunners, of acid rain formation result from both natural sources, such as volcanoes and decaying vegetation, and man-made sources, primarily emissions of [|sulfur dioxide (SO] [|2] [|)] and [|nitrogen oxides (NOx)] resulting from fossil fuel combustion. In the United States, roughly 2/3 of all SO 2 and 1/4 of all NOx come from electric power generation that relies on burning fossil fuels, like coal. Yet, electric power generation is not the only source using coal combustion. NOx comes from both coal combustion and automobile traffic. Globally, emissions of SOx and NOx are 104 billion kg and 51.4 billion kg respectively. Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released from power plants and other sources, prevailing winds blow these compounds across state and national borders, sometimes over hundreds of miles. Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to the damage of trees at high elevations (for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet) and many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our nation's cultural heritage. Prior to falling to the earth, sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) gases and their particulate matter derivatives—sulfates and nitrates—contribute to visibility degradation and harm public health.

Acid rain is measured using a scale called "pH." The lower a substance's pH, the more acidic it is. Pure water has a pH of 7.0. Normal rain is slightly acidic because carbon dioxide dissolves into it, so it has a pH of about 5.5. All sea life will die if the pH goes below 4.5, that also consists of frogs and insects that live around that water. Fresh water shrimp die when the pH becomes 6.0. Aquatic plants will grow the best when the pH is between 7-9.2. As of the year 2000, the record of the most acidic rain falling in the US has a pH of about 4.3.
 * How Do We Measure Acid Rain?**

History
the first example of acid rain that was recorded was the effect of acid rain on marble statues, which was noted in the 17th century by John Evelyn. SInce the industrial revolution, emmisions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides to the atmosphere have increased, causing the higher occurrence of acid rain. Since the advent of Clean Coal Technology (CCT), SOx has been dramatically reduced, and NOx has decreased.

Acid rain dissolves magnesium and calcium carbonate. Therefore, the calcium carbonate in marble is broken down, resulting in damage to many different landmarks. Acid rain can damage non-living things such as buildings, roads, statues, and bridges. It decays building materials and paints. It is a sad cost when acid rain damages non-replaceable buildings, statues and sculptures that are part of our nation's memories. cid rain (or acid deposition, as it's called in technical circles) is produced by the burning of fossil fuels. It is formed when emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen and oxidants to form various acidic compounds. These compounds then fall to the ground in either wet or dry form. Acid rain acidifies lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees at high elevations. (Check out Mount Mitchell in North Carolina if you want a graphic example of tree damage.) Hundreds of lakes in the Adirondacks have become too acidic to support sensitive fish species. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of paints and buildings. Electric power plants account for about 70 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions about 30 percent of nitrogen oxides emissions. Cars, trucks and buses also are major sources of nitrogen oxides.

Acid rain is very harmful to the environment. It damages over a period of time. It affects life in the water as well as on land. One way is by dissolving the shells of marine life.It could almost be worse for the aquatic life because the fish need water to breathe and if it is too polluted the fish end up getting sick and die.Acid rain is most harmful to fish and underwater plant life. Due to the acid rain killing plant life and fungi, the rivers become more polluted and start to slowly kill off fish. If acid rain becomes more of a problem then all the sea life will eventually be gone. Of 202 lakes that were studied in the early 1980's only 33% of them have become less acidic. Trees are also damaged by acid rain. Forrest in Germany are reported to be dining because of the acid rain harm. The wax outer coating that protects the leaves are becoming damaged. This allows the acid to seep into the tree. This prevents the plant from taking in carbon dioxide to perform photosynthesis. This also makes it harder for trees to withstand the cold. Soil is also harmed from acid rain, because it takes away valuable nutrients away and leaves aluminum which is harmful to trees. When toxic metals such as lead, zinc, copper, chromium, and aluminum are deposits from acid rain it is believed to stunt tree and plant growth along with mosses, algae, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and fungi that are needed to help the forest grow. It leaches nutrients out of the soils making trees susceptible to insect infestation, disease, and winter injury. The damages it has on the air effects our health. Breathing problems such as asthma is linked to acid air pollution. Acid rain is also linked to premature deaths. If we see acid rain decrease we will see health problems decrease as well.
 * Damages**

The table above shows that the biggest air pollutant that mobile sources contribute to acid rain is carbon monoxide. 81% of carbon monoxide comes from mobile sources. The second biggest source is particulate matter, which is little particles of pollution that are released into the air by cars, trucks and buses that burn diesel fuel.
 * **Air Pollutant** || <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">**% that mobile sources contribute to acid rain** || <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">**% that other sources contribute to acid rain** ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">Volatile organic compound || <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">37% || <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">63% ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">Nitrogen oxide || <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">49% || <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">51% ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">Carbon monoxide || <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">81% || <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">19% ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">Particulate matter || <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">27% || <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica; text-align: center;">73% ||

__**What can we do?**__
 * Run the dishwasher with a full load.
 * Run the washing machine with a full load.
 * Turn off the light in empty rooms.
 * Turn off the water heater if you are gone for a long period of time.
 * Do not use your conditioner as much.
 * Install fluorescent light bulbs.
 * Reduce, reuse and recycle.
 * Do not burn a fire as often as you usually do.
 * Keep pool covers on pools when they are not in use.
 * Walk, ride a bike or take a bus or a train.
 * Car-pool.
 * Try ethanol, propane or natural gas.
 * Make sure vehicle's air condition system does not leaks.

Effects of Acid Rain:
Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees at high elevations (for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet) and many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our nation's cultural heritage. Prior to falling to the earth, SO 2 and NOx gases and their particulate matter derivatives, sulfates and nitrates, contribute to visibility degradation and harm public health.

What Society Can Do About Acid Deposition :
There are several ways to reduce acid deposition, more properly called acid deposition, ranging from societal changes to individual action.**//Understand acid deposition's causes and effects.//** To understand acid deposition's causes and effects and track changes in the environment, scientists from EPA, state governments, and academic study acidification processes. They collect air and water samples and measure them for various characteristics like pH and chemical composition, and they research the effects of acid deposition on human-made materials such as marble and bronze. Finally, scientists work to understand the effects of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) - the pollutants that cause acid deposition and fine particles - on human health.To solve the acid rain problem, people need to understand how acid rain causes damage to the environment. They also need to understand what changes could be made to the air pollution sources that cause the problem. The answers to these questions help leaders make better decisions about how to control air pollution and therefore how to reduce - or even eliminate - acid rain. Since there are many solutions to the acid rain problem, leaders have a choice of which options or combination of options are best. The next section describes some of the steps that can be taken to reduce, or even eliminate, the acid deposition problem.

Clean up smokestacks and exhaust pipes:
Almost all of the electricity that powers modern life comes from burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil. acid deposition is caused by two pollutants that are released into the atmosphere, or emitted, when these fuels are burned: sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).Coal accounts for most US sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) emissions and a large portion of NOx emissions. Sulfur is present in coal as an impurity, and it reacts with air when the coal is burned to form SO 2. In contrast, NOx is formed when any fossil fuel is burned. There are several options for reducing SO 2 emissions, including using coal containing less sulfur, washing the coal, and using devices called scrubbers to chemically remove the SO 2 from the gases leaving the smokestack. Power plants can also switch fuels; for example burning natural gas creates much less SO 2 than burning coal. Certain approaches will also have additional benefits of reducing other pollutants such as mercury and carbon dioxide. Understanding these "co-benefits" has become important in seeking cost-effective air pollution reduction strategies. Finally, power plants can use technologies that don't burn fossil fuels. Each of these options has its own costs and benefits, however; there is no single universal solution.Similar to scrubbers on power plants, catalytic converters reduce NOx emissions from cars. These devices have been required for over twenty years in the US, and it is important to keep them working properly and tailpipe restrictions have been tightened recently. EPA has also made, and continues to make, changes to gasoline that allows it to burn cleaner.

Use alternative energy sources:
There are other sources of electricity besides fossil fuels. They include: nuclear power, hydropower, wind energy, geothermal energy, and solar energy. Of these, nuclear and hydropower are used most widely; wind, solar, and geothermal energy have not yet been harnessed on a large scale in this country.There are also alternative energies available to power automobiles, including natural gas powered vehicles, battery-powered cars, fuel cells, and combinations of alternative and gasoline powered vehicles.All sources of energy have environmental costs as well as benefits. Some types of energy are more expensive to produce than others, which means that not all Americans can afford all types of energy. Nuclear power, hydropower, and coal are the cheapest forms today, but changes in technologies and environmental regulations may shift that in the future. All of these factors must be weighed when deciding which energy source to use today and which to invest in for tomorrow.

Restore a damaged environment:
Acid deposition penetrates deeply into the fabric of an ecosystem, changing the chemistry of the soil as well as the chemistry of the streams and narrowing, sometimes to nothing, the space where certain plants and animals can survive. Because there are so many changes, it takes many years for ecosystems to recover from acid deposition, even after emissions are reduced and the rain becomes normal again. For example, while the visibility might improve within days, and small or episodic chemical changes in streams improve within months, chronically acidified lakes, streams, forests, and soils can take years to decades or even centuries (in the case of soils) to heal.However, there are some things that people do to bring back lakes and streams more quickly. Limestone or lime (a naturally-occurring basic compound) can be added to acidic lakes to "cancel out" the acidity. This process, called liming, has been used extensively in Norway and Sweden but is not used very often in the United States. Liming tends to be expensive, has to be done repeatedly to keep the water from returning to its acidic condition, and is considered a short-term remedy in only specific areas rather than an effort to reduce or prevent pollution. Furthermore, it does not solve the broader problems of changes in soil chemistry and forest health in the watershed, and does nothing to address visibility reductions, materials damage, and risk to human health. However, liming does often permit fish to remain in a lake, so it allows the native population to survive in place until emissions reductions reduce the amount of acid deposition in the area.

Look to the future:
As emissions from the largest known sources of acid deposition - power plants and automobiles-are reduced, EPA scientists and their colleagues must assess the reductions to make sure they are achieving the results Congress anticipated. If these assessments show that acid deposition is still harming the environment, Congress may begin to consider additional ways to reduce emissions that cause acid deposition. They may consider additional emissions reductions from sources that have already been controlled, or methods to reduce emissions from other sources. They may also invest in energy efficiency and alternative energy. The cutting edge of protecting the environment from acid deposition will continue to develop and implement cost-effective mechanisms to cut emissions and reduce their impact on the environment.**//Take action as individuals.//** It may seem like there is not much that one individual can do to stop acid deposition. However, like many environmental problems, acid deposition is caused by the cumulative actions of millions of individual people. Therefore, each individual can also reduce their contribution to the problem and become part of the solution. One of the first steps is to understand the problem and its solutions.Individuals can contribute directly by conserving energy, since energy production causes the largest portion of the acid deposition problem. For example, you can:
 * 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.
 * Be well-informed.



Wet Deposition
Wet depostion refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. If the acid chemicals in the air are blown into areas where the weather is wet, the acids can fall to the ground in the form of rain, snow, fog, or mist. As this acidic water flows over and through the ground, it affects a variety of plants and animals. The strength of the effects depends on several factors, including how acidic the water is; the chemistry and buffering capactity of the soils involved; and the types of fish, trees, and other living things that rely on the water.

Dry Deposition
In areas where the weather is dry, the acid chemicals may become incorporated into dust or smoke and fall to the ground through dry deposition, sticking to the ground, buildings, homes, cars, and trees. Dry deposited gases and particles can be washed from these surfaces by rainstorms, leading to increased runoff. This runoff water makes the resulting mixture more acidic. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition. Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to the damage of trees at high elevations (for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet) and many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our nation's cultural heritage. Prior to falling to the earth, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) gases and their particulate matter derivatives—sulfates and nitrates—contribute to visibility degradation and harm public health. "Acid rain" is a broad term used to describe several ways that acids fall out of the atmosphere. A more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts: wet and dry. Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. As this acidic water flows over and through the ground, it affects a variety of plants and animals. The strength of the effects depend on many factors, including how acidic the water is, the chemistry and buffering capacity of the soils involved, and the types of fish, trees, and other living things that rely on the water. Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition. The wind blows these acidic particles and gases onto buildings, cars, homes, and trees. Dry deposited gases and particles can also be washed from trees and other surfaces by rainstorms. When that happens, the runoff water adds those acids to the acid rain, making the combination more acidic than the falling rain alone. Prevailing winds blow the compounds that cause both wet and dry acid deposition across state and national borders, and sometimes over hundreds of miles. Scientists discovered, and have confirmed, that sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are the primary causes of acid rain. In the US, About 2/3 of all SO2 and 1/4 of all NOx comes from electric power generation that relies on burning fossil fuels like coal. Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. Sunlight increases the rate of most of these reactions. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. **How Do We Measure Acid Rain?** Acid rain is measured using a scale called "pH." The lower a substance's pH, the more acidic it is. Pure water has a pH of 7.0. Normal rain is slightly acidic because carbon dioxide dissolves into it, so it has a pH of about 5.5. As of the year 2000, the most acidic rain falling in the US has a pH of about 4.3.Acid rain's pH, and the chemicals that cause acid rain, are monitored by two networks, both supported by EPA. The National Atmospheric Deposition Program measures wet deposition, and its Web site features maps of rainfall pH (follow the link to the isopleth maps) and other important precipitation chemistry measurements.The Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) measures dry deposition. Its web site features information about the data it collects, the measuring sites, and the kinds of equipment it uses. **Effects of Acid Rain**Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees at high elevations (for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet) and many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our nation's cultural heritage. Prior to falling to the earth, SO2 and NOx gases and their particulate matter derivatives, sulfates and nitrates, contribute to visibility degradation and harm public health. **What Society Can Do About Acid Deposition** There are several ways to reduce acid deposition, more properly called acid deposition, ranging from societal changes to individual action. **//Understand acid deposition's causes and effects//** To understand acid deposition's causes and effects and track changes in the environment, scientists from EPA, state governments, and academic study acidification processes. They collect air and water samples and measure them for various characteristics like pH and chemical composition, and they research the effects of acid deposition on human-made materials such as marble and bronze. Finally, scientists work to understand the effects of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) - the pollutants that cause acid deposition and fine particles - on human health. To solve the acid rain problem, people need to understand how acid rain causes damage to the environment. They also need to understand what changes could be made to the air pollution sources that cause the problem. The answers to these questions help leaders make better decisions about how to control air pollution and therefore how to reduce - or even eliminate - acid rain. Since there are many solutions to the acid rain problem, leaders have a choice of which options or combination of options are best. The next section describes some of the steps that can be taken to reduce, or even eliminate, the acid deposition problem. **//Clean up smokestacks and exhaust pipes//**Almost all of the electricity that powers modern life comes from burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil. acid deposition is caused by two pollutants that are released into the atmosphere, or emitted, when these fuels are burned: sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).Coal accounts for most US sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and a large portion of NOx emissions. Sulfur is present in coal as an impurity, and it reacts with air when the coal is burned to form SO2. In contrast, NOx is formed when any fossil fuel is burned.There are several options for reducing SO2 emissions, including using coal containing less sulfur, washing the coal, and using devices called scrubbers to chemically remove the SO2 from the gases leaving the smokestack. Power plants can also switch fuels; for example burning natural gas creates much less SO2 than burning coal. Certain approaches will also have additional benefits of reducing other pollutants such as mercury and carbon dioxide. Understanding these "co-benefits" has become important in seeking cost-effective air pollution reduction strategies. Finally, power plants can use technologies that don't burn fossil fuels. Each of these options has its own costs and benefits, however; there is no single universal solution.Similar to scrubbers on power plants, catalytic converters reduce NOx emissions from cars. These devices have been required for over twenty years in the US, and it is important to keep them working properly and tailpipe restrictions have been tightened recently. EPA has also made, and continues to make, changes to gasoline that allows it to burn cleaner.**//Use alternative energy sources//**There are other sources of electricity besides fossil fuels. They include: nuclear power, hydropower, wind energy, geothermal energy, and solar energy. Of these, nuclear and hydropower are used most widely; wind, solar, and geothermal energy have not yet been harnessed on a large scale in this country.There are also alternative energies available to power automobiles, including natural gas powered vehicles, battery-powered cars, fuel cells, and combinations of alternative and gasoline powered vehicles.All sources of energy have environmental costs as well as benefits. Some types of energy are more expensive to produce than others, which means that not all Americans can afford all types of energy. Nuclear power, hydropower, and coal are the cheapest forms today, but changes in technologies and environmental regulations may shift that in the future. All of these factors must be weighed when deciding which energy source to use today and which to invest in for tomorrow.**//Restore a damaged environment//**Acid deposition penetrates deeply into the fabric of an ecosystem, changing the chemistry of the soil as well as the chemistry of the streams and narrowing, sometimes to nothing, the space where certain plants and animals can survive. Because there are so many changes, it takes many years for ecosystems to recover from acid deposition, even after emissions are reduced and the rain becomes normal again. For example, while the visibility might improve within days, and small or episodic chemical changes in streams improve within months, chronically acidified lakes, streams, forests, and soils can take years to decades or even centuries (in the case of soils) to heal.However, there are some things that people do to bring back lakes and streams more quickly. Limestone or lime (a naturally-occurring basic compound) can be added to acidic lakes to "cancel out" the acidity. This process, called liming, has been used extensively in Norway and Sweden but is not used very often in the United States. Liming tends to be expensive, has to be done repeatedly to keep the water from returning to its acidic condition, and is considered a short-term remedy in only specific areas rather than an effort to reduce or prevent pollution. Furthermore, it does not solve the broader problems of changes in soil chemistry and forest health in the watershed, and does nothing to address visibility reductions, materials damage, and risk to human health. However, liming does often permit fish to remain in a lake, so it allows the native population to survive in place until emissions reductions reduce the amount of acid deposition in the area.**//Look to the future//**As emissions from the largest known sources of acid deposition - power plants and automobiles-are reduced, EPA scientists and their colleagues must assess the reductions to make sure they are achieving the results Congress anticipated. If these assessments show that acid deposition is still harming the environment, Congress may begin to consider additional ways to reduce emissions that cause acid deposition. They may consider additional emissions reductions from sources that have already been controlled, or methods to reduce emissions from other sources. They may also invest in energy efficiency and alternative energy. The cutting edge of protecting the environment from acid deposition will continue to develop and implement cost-effective mechanisms to cut emissions and reduce their impact on the environment.**//Take action as individuals//**It may seem like there is not much that one individual can do to stop acid deposition. However, like many environmental problems, acid deposition is caused by the cumulative actions of millions of individual people. Therefore, each individual can also reduce their contribution to the problem and become part of the solution. One of the first steps is to understand the problem and its solutions.Individuals can contribute directly by conserving energy, since energy production causes the largest portion of the acid deposition problem.