Acid Rain Legislation

Acid Rain Legislation


     Acid rain is a destructive force as a result of nature and man colliding.

It is formed through harmful industrial emissions combining with contents of

the earth's atmosphere; a dangerous combination.  This prompted governments

throughout North America to take action.  Many laws and regulations have been

implemented, yet the question still remains, "Should tougher legislation be

implemented to force industries to reduce acid rain emissions?"


     To decide whether tougher legislation should be implemented, one must

first understand the details of what exactly acid rain is.  Acid rain is a

result of mankind's carelessness.  It travels a long one of the most efficient

biogeochemical cycles on earth, the Hydrologic Cycle.  This allows acid rain to

distribute itself further away from it's source causing more than local problems.

  Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is released by fossil fuels when they undergo combustion.

Power plants and other fossil fuel burning industrial areas release various

forms of nitrous oxides (Nox).  These two chemical compounds combine with the

water in the atmosphere to form what is known as acid rain.


     The main reason that has prompted legislation of industrial emissions

from governments is because of the negative effects they can have on the

environment.  Acid rain is harmful to the environment because of it's low pH.

It can harm the biotic components of earth, and also the abiotic components.

It's high acidity degrades soil to the point where it cannot support any type of

plant life.  Trees in forests are killed over long-term exposure.  When these

trees are killed, an imbalance in the hydrologic cycle can occur.  Without

living trees to consume the precipitate, it must be consumed by the earth or any

other plants.  These will receive an excess of water, causing other problems in

the hydrologic cycle.  This in turn causes a chain reaction of death among our

forests.  Some regions are more susceptible to acid rain because they don't have

enough Alkaline soil to "neutralize" the acid before it is able to destroy the

rest of the soil or before it can run off into lakes or rivers.  Aquatic

environments can be greatly affected by soil runoff.  Acidic soil may runoff

into lakes and rivers due to erosion, causing acid rain to destroy more

environment.  Acid rain aquatic animals as well as aquatic plant life.  When

acid rain combines with water in major bodies of water, it not only destroys

wildlife habitat, it destroys our drinking water.  An aquatic ecosystem is very

dependent on e
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