Ecological Effects Of Acid Rain

Acid Rain is best described as any form of precipitation with high levels of nitric and sulfuric acid. Acid rain or acid deposition is the result of burning of fossil fuels. About two-thirds of SO2 and one-fourth of NOx are released into the air; it comes from electric power generators. These chemicals react would react with water, oxygen, and other substances to form delicate solution of sulfuric and nitric acid to form acidic pollutants. The source of sulphur dioxide comes from volcanoes, biological decay, forest fires; nitrogen oxides also comes from volcanoes and biological decay. Winds spread these acidic arrangements across the atmosphere and over many miles. At a point where acid rain reaches Earth, it it seeps into the soil and the water system. Acid precipitation has many ecological effects, such as acidification of freshwater and destroying ecosystem. Everything in the …show more content…
Birds like osprey have hard time living around acidic lakes because there are fewer fish to be found. Acid rain is linked to the population decline of bird. This is because female birds require more calcium to solidify their eggs and for skeleton growth, they rely on calcium-rich foods like snails. In areas of acid rain, snail population decreases resulting to egg defects for the birds. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that acid rain causes a decrease in population and causes extinction. This can disturb the food chain. Animals cannot withstand chemical imbalances die, fail to reproduce, become deformed due to bone disfiguration and fail to grow normally. Metals may disturb the circulatory, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system of animals. Major organs like kidney, liver, and brain are targeted. Due to this, the entire population can be affected as metal contamination and can cause changes in birth, growth, and death