Air Pollution and its Harmful Effects :: Papers

Air Pollution and its deadly EffectsAir Pollution, addition of harmful substances to the atmosphere resulting in impose on _or_ oppress to the environment, human health, and quality of life. (Encarta Air Pollution) Damage may be sooner an understatement on this topic. I believe that mass extinction might be more than damaging to the quality of life. I seem to be saltation the gun here but as you will see p atomic number 18ntage pollution is a very deadly environmental concern. In the joined States alone, air pollution has been a serious environmental and public health problem since the early part of the 1900s. battery-acid Rain, Ozone Depletion, Smog, and Global Warming are all the result of air pollution. This could possibly be the single nigh devastating factor in the dissipation of our Eco-system, as we know it. dit Rain is a term that consists of acid rain, snow, fog, and particles. It is caused by sulfur dioxides and northward oxides released by power plants vehicles and other sources such as gasses, and oils. (EPA Acid Rain) Acid rain effects trees, soil, farms, and surface waters. When the acid in rain comes in contact with an object it immediately starts a chemical reaction. A pH scale measures the acidity level of a substance in mathematical order, 0-14, 0 being pure acid, 7.5 the most neutral point, and 14 being the highest alkalinity. (Encarta Acid Rain pg. 2) Acid rain eats away at the nutrients in the topsoil needed by plants and wildlife. The soils natural alkaline quarter sometimes neutralize the acid, but in places where the soil is thin the alkalinity is poor. In Vermont we have low alkalinity because our land is mostly comprised of granite. (Encarta Acid Rain pg. 2) Trees and plants are also at try because of the acidic soil. It slows tree growth, as hearty as eats holes through the vulnerable leaves. Once acid and the metals they collapse weaken trees, they are more susceptible to other harms like insects, drought, and tatty w eather. (Encarta) Higher elevations are at more risk because they are enveloping(prenominal) to the deadly clouds. (Encarta Acid Rain pg. 2) In the worst cases trees have sensual damage to the roots and leaves, trim canopy cover, crown dieback, a reduced growth rate and finally whole tree death. (EFFECTS OF ACID rainfall ON TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS) Crops are generally less at risk to acid rain than trees. Most farms are in thick topsoil conditions where alkalines can neutralize the acid.