Dealing with Toxic and Other Adverse Effects of Acid Rain

1 Dealing with Toxic and Other Adverse Effects of Acid Rain 

Acid rain in the form of rainfall poses little threat to human health the pH is not low enough to affect exposed tissue. However, droplets composing fog may be quite acidic and are respirable, which can cause asthma attacks and other adverse health effects to exposed individuals. In addition, inhalation of particles containing acidic salts (ammonium sulfates and nitrates) can have adverse pulmonary effects. 

Acid rain adversely affects aquatic organisms in bodies of water that lack a pH buffering capacity because of lack of contact with minerals that can neutralize acid, especially limestone, CaC03. The greatest adverse effect is on fish fingerlings that do not thrive in acidic water. 

The best way to deal with acid rain is to eliminate its production by limiting emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. Consideration may need to be given to growing crops that are relatively less susceptible to the adverse effects of acid rain and the nitrogen and sulfur oxides that form it. Acid in excessively acidic bodies of water can be neutralized by treatment with CaC03. 

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