Causes and Effects of Acid Rain and Smog

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.  
Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted
into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents. The
SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric
acids.  These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground.

While a small portion of the SO2 and NOX that cause acid rain is from natural sources
such as volcanoes, most of it comes from the burning of fossil fuels.  The major
sources of SO2 and NOX in the atmosphere are: Burning of fossil fuels to generate
electricity.  Two-thirds of SO2 and one-fourth of NOX in the atmosphere come from
electric power generators. Vehicles and heavy equipment. Manufacturing, oil
refineries and other industries. Winds can blow SO 2 and NOX over long distances
and across borders making acid rain a problem for everyone and not just those who
live close to these sources. 

Acidic particles and gases can also deposit from the atmosphere in the absence of
moisture as 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. When the
accumulated acids are washed off the surface by the next rain, this acidic water
flows over and through the ground and can harm plants and wildlife, such as insects
and fish.

The amount of acidity in the atmosphere that is deposited to the earth through dry
deposition depends on the amount of rainfall an area receives.  For example, in
desert areas, the ratio of dry to wet deposits is higher than in an area that receives
several inches of rain each year.

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.

Air pollution like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can cause respiratory diseases or
can make these diseases worse. Respiratory diseases like asthma or chronic
bronchitis make it hard for people to breathe. The pollution that causes acid rain can
also create tiny particles. When these particles get into people’s lungs, they can
cause health problems or can make existing health problems worse. Also, nitrogen
oxides cause ground-level ozone. This ground-level ozone causes respiratory
problems, like pneumonia and bronchitis, and can even cause permanent lung
damage. The health effects that people must worry about are not caused by acid
rain but are caused when people breathe in these tiny particles of ozone. Swimming
in an acidic lake or walking in a sour puddle is no more harmful to people than
swimming or walking in clean water. Acid rain can be extremely harmful to forests.
Acid rain that seeps into the ground can dissolve nutrients, such as magnesium and
calcium, that trees need to be healthy. Acid rain also causes aluminium to be
released into the soil, which makes it difficult for trees to take up water.

smog, and community-wide polluted air. Its composition is variable. The term is
derived from the words smoke and fog, but it is commonly used to describe the pall
of automotive or industrial origin that lies over many cities. The term was probably
first used in 1905 by H.A. des Voeux to describe atmospheric conditions over many
British towns. It was popularized in 1911 by Des Voeux’s report to the Manchester
Conference of the Smoke Abatement League of Great Britain on the more than
1,000 “smoke-fog” deaths that occurred in Glasgow and Edinburgh during the
autumn of 1909.

At least two distinct types of smog are recognized: sulfurous smog and
photochemical smog. Sulfurous smog, which is also called “London smog,” results
from a high concentration of sulfur oxides in the air and is caused using sulfur-
bearing fossil fuels, particularly coal. This type of smog is aggravated by dampness
and a high concentration of suspended particulate matter in the air. Smog-like air
pollution trapped higher in the atmosphere can persist as atmospheric brown clouds,
which can cause climatic and health effects. See also Asian brown cloud.

Photochemical smog, which is also known as “Los Angeles smog,” occurs most
prominently in urban areas that have large numbers of automobiles. It requires
neither smoke nor fog. This type of smog has its origin in the nitrogen oxides and
hydrocarbon vapours emitted by automobiles and other sources, which then
undergo photochemical reactions in the lower atmosphere. The highly toxic gas
ozone arises from the reaction of nitrogen oxides with hydrocarbon vapors in the
presence of sunlight, and some nitrogen dioxide is produced from the reaction of
nitrogen oxide with sunlight. The resulting smog causes a light brownish colouration
of the atmosphere, reduced visibility, plant damage, irritation of the eyes, and
respiratory distress. Surface-level ozone concentrations are considered unhealthy if
they exceed 70 parts per billion for eight hours or longer; such conditions are
common in urban areas prone to photochemical smog.