Ways to Prevent Acid Rain : Essay , Article , Speech

Prevent acid rain

What is acid rain?

Acid rain – words we often read in books and hear on the news – is a phenomenon to which we directly or indirectly contribute. As their name suggests, air pollutants make precipitation extremely acidic and cause damage to flora, fauna, and infrastructure. Acid rain contains increased amounts of hydrogen ions, which are formed by the interaction of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides with water.

Means of preventing acid rain Means of preventing acid rain

To find a solution to this problem, we need to go further and identify the root causes. The causes of acid rain include natural and human activities. Volcanic eruptions and decaying vegetation are among the natural causes of acid deposition. However, the burning of fossil fuels for power generation, industrial plants, and motor vehicles is strongly associated with the anthropogenic activities that cause acid rain.

Preventive measures for the prevention of acid rain can be taken at the following levels

  • Individual
  • National location
  • Global levels

Individual measures to prevent acid rain

As individuals, we can do our part by saving energy, finding alternative means of transportation and alternative fuels. It’s time to take energy-saving advertising seriously. It can be helpful to turn off electrical appliances when not in use, use natural cooling methods instead of air conditioning, and lead a more nature-friendly lifestyle. Instead of traveling by car, bus, bicycle, etc., we can switch to environmentally friendly means of transport. Walking or biking to work, carpooling, and choosing cleaner vehicles can really help. Moreover, switching to solar energy, using hydroelectric power where possible, and using other forms of energy (wind, nuclear, etc.) with maximum efficiency instead of using fossil fuels will help avoid this dilemma.

Preventive measures at the national level to avoid acid rain

At the national level, the governing bodies of individual countries can enact and enforce laws. In the United States, for example, an amendment to the Clean Air Act was passed in 1990 to limit sulfur dioxide emissions. The Government of India has taken the initiative to convert all rickshaws and automatic taxis into CNG metros. A similar Canadian government initiative to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions and prevent acid rain is the 1985 Eastern Canada Acid Rain Program. There is a need for more educational programs and campaigns and the use of the media to disseminate this information, to draw people’s attention to this ever-growing problem. Since trees are the main cures for almost all environmental problems, a tree-planting campaign is necessary.

Measures to prevent acid rain at the global level

At the global level, various UN conferences and summits should enforce protocols binding on all Member States to limit emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These are the best UN measures to prevent acid rain.

Conclusion on acid rain prevention measures

In short, we have a choice between making our future safe and green or dealing with the dangerous effects of acid rain. The two main sources of acid rain are sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.  Motor vehicles are the main source of nitrogen oxide emissions and utilities are the main source of sulfur dioxide emissions.  These gases evaporate into the atmosphere and then oxidize in the clouds to form nitric or nitric acid and sulfuric acid.  When these acids fall to the ground, they are not only harmful to the environment, but also to human health.  Acid rain kills plants and destroys life in lakes and ponds.  Pollutants in acid rain cause problems in the human respiratory system.  Pollutants attack people indirectly through the food they eat.  They have a direct impact on human health through the inhalation of pollutants.  Governments have passed laws to reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, but it’s no use if people don’t start working together to stop these pollutants.  If acid rain destroys our environment, it will eventually destroy us.

 

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