Acid rain poses a threat to human and animal health, as it can cause and aggravate respiratory and eye problems, as well as erode monuments and building materials.
Reducing the acidity of rains requires reducing polluting emissions and investing in the use of less polluting energy sources.
- Rain results from the dissolution of pollutants in the atmosphere at high altitudes.
- Resulting in acidic substances.
- The main pollutants that cause acid rain are sulfur oxides.
- Nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide.
- Which result in sulfuric acid.
- Nitric acid and carbonic acid respectively.
These substances can result from fires, forestry, agricultural and livestock activities, the burning of fossil fuels and volcanic eruptions, and accumulate in the atmosphere over a period of time and be transported with wind to other regions.
In terms of health, acid rain can cause or aggravate breathing problems, such as asthma and bronchitis and eye problems, and can also cause conjunctivitis.
Acid rain accelerates the natural erosion of materials, such as historical monuments, metals, building materials, for example. It affects various ecosystems, such as lakes, rivers and forests, altering the pH of water and soils, threatening human health.
Reducing acid rain is necessary to reduce gases emitted into the atmosphere, purify fuels before burning, and invest in less polluting energy sources such as natural gas, hydraulics, solar or energy. wind power, for example.