Acid rain is the price for progress

Scientists have long been sounding the alarm: environmental pollution has reached incredible proportions. The dumping of liquid waste into water bodies, exhaust gases and volatile chemicals into the atmosphere, and the burial of nuclear remains underground - all this has brought humanity to the brink environmental disaster.

We have already witnessed the beginning of shifts in the planet’s ecosystem: every now and then the news reports about things that are atypical for a particular area. weather events, Green Peace is sounding the alarm about the mass extinction of entire species of animals; acid rain, which regularly falls over industrial cities, has become not a rarity, but rather a pattern. A man collided with ambiguous situation: an increase in living standards is accompanied by a deterioration environment, which affects health. This problem has long been recognized worldwide. Humanity should think: is technological progress worth the consequences it entails? To better understand this problem, let’s consider one of the “achievements” of modern industry - acid rain, which is even taught about in school these days. Are they really that dangerous?

Acid rain: causes and consequences

Not only rain, but also snow, dew and even fog can be acidic. From the looks of it

normal precipitation, but their acidity levels are much higher than normal, which is why they negative impact on the environment. The mechanism for the formation of acid rain is as follows: exhaust gases and other industrial wastes containing large doses of sulfur and sodium oxides enter the atmosphere, where they bind with water droplets, forming a weakly concentrated acid solution, which in the form atmospheric precipitation falls to the ground, causing irreparable harm to nature. Acid rain poisons the water animals drink; getting into water bodies, they slowly destroy the local flora and fauna, kill agricultural crops, spill over the fields, get into the soil, and poison it. Even engineering structures Such precipitation causes significant damage, corroding stone walls buildings and undermining reinforced concrete load-bearing structures. Acid precipitation is not the only fate major cities and industrial

zones, toxic clouds can be carried by air masses thousands of kilometers and fall over forests and lakes.

How to deal with acid rain?

The consequences of acid rain are disastrous not only for the environment, but also for the economy, and everyone knows this. So why aren't drastic measures being taken to improve the situation? In order to reduce emissions into the atmosphere, multibillion-dollar investments are required: modernization of production technology is necessary, as for automobile exhausts - a transition to more modern views fuel. The result will be noticeable only when everyone is involved in solving this problem. global community. Unfortunately, in the pursuit of prosperity and increasing GDP, the governments of many countries do not pay due attention to the problem of environmental protection.

IN Lately due to the general deterioration of the environmental situation on our planet, such unpleasant things are happening more and more often environmental phenomenon like acid rain. Acid rain occurs due to the interaction of air and water in the upper atmosphere with various pollutants.

History of acid rain

The first acid rain in history was recorded back in 1872, just during the heyday of industrialization and mass construction of factories. Needless to say, by the 20th century this phenomenon had become many times more frequent and, of course, we, the inhabitants of the 21st century, inherited it.

Causes of acid rain

What are the causes of acid rain? Ecologists divide them into anthropogenic and natural. Anthropogenic causes Acid rain is caused by human activity and includes:

• Emissions of various nitrogen and sulfur oxides from plants and factories. Once in the atmosphere, they interact with water vapor, resulting in the formation of sulfuric acid, which falls with such acid rain.
• Exhaust gases, another source of air pollution, are also another cause of acid rain.

The natural causes of acid rain are not related to human activity; as a rule, they occur as a result of volcanic eruptions, which then also enters the atmosphere. a large number of nitrogen-containing substances, upon interaction with which nitric acid is formed, which falls as acid rain.

Consequences of acid rain

What are the effects of acid rain? Negative consequences a lot of:

• death of crops,
• water pollution,
• reduction in forest area,
• diseases in people.

Contact with acid rain increases the risk of diseases such as asthma, allergies, and cancer. Acid rain pollutes rivers and lakes, making water unusable, which can kill huge fish populations. Because of acid rain, the soil becomes polluted and loses its fertility, and as a result, the yield decreases. Plants also suffer from them, trees’ leaves fall and root development is inhibited, plants become sensitive to temperature changes.

Ways to solve the problem of acid rain

The main step to solve the environmental problem of acid rain, as well as the problem, is to reduce the emission of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. industrial waste, the use of cleaning filters in factories and factories. And in the future, the creation of environmentally friendly production, in general, everything modern technologies should be implemented only after assessing their impact on the environment.

A gradual transition to environmentally friendly electric vehicles will also be a step towards overcoming the problem of acid rain. The first such Tesla cars are already slowly gaining popularity, and we really want to believe that in the future they will become ubiquitous, and gasoline cars will become a thing of history, just like old steam trains, for example, became.

Acid rain video

And finally, a short educational video about acid rain.

Hydrometeors with a pH below normal and characterized by the presence of harmful substances are acid rain. It could be snow, fog, rain or hail. Any of the species in the atmosphere and on earth can lead to an environmental disaster.

Just a couple of decades ago, only the scientific community was concerned about the negative impact of this phenomenon. Now it is causing great concern not only in the scientific world, but also among the general public, as well as various government agencies.

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History of the problem

The effect of precipitation with a reduced water index on the environment was outlined more than a hundred years ago by the British chemist R. Smith. The scientist became interested in smog and the substances in its composition. Thus was born the concept of acidity, which was immediately rejected by the advanced scientific community of the time. ABOUT pH value 10 years later, his colleague spoke again.

The chemist and engineer S. Arrhenius published a report on chemical substances that can release hydrogen cation. He again drew the attention of scientists to the harmfulness of such precipitation, to the danger the phenomenon poses, and became the person who coined the term: acid/base. Since then, these indicators have been considered the level of acids in the aquatic environment.

Svante Arrhenius

The main elements of hydrometeors are acidic components. This substance is monobasic acids (sulfuric and nitric). Precipitations based on interacting gases (chlorine and methane) are less common. What their composition will be depends on what chemical waste is combined with water.

In short, the mechanism of formation of the phenomenon is the combination of oxides released into the atmosphere with water molecules. During the interaction, the formation of chemical components occurs - sulfuric and nitric acid.

Reasons for appearance

Hydrometeors with low pH levels are caused by increased concentrations of sulfur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. Compounds enter the atmosphere either naturally or man-made. Natural sources are:

The main reason is human activity. What is it? The factor causing precipitation is air pollution. The most famous pollutants are automobile transport and thermal power plants. Emissions play a significant role in the formation of oxides in the atmosphere. industrial enterprises, nuclear tests. Hydrometeors with acid are formed in large quantities in places where space rockets are launched.

Vostochny Cosmodrome. Launch of the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with 19 satellites

Hydrometeors with acids are not only snow or fog, but also dust clouds. They are formed when toxic gases and vapors rise into the air during dry weather.

The main reasons lie in the huge emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere. The main ones here include chemical production, oil and gasoline storage facilities, and solvents, which are used by enterprises and in everyday life more and more actively every year. Problem acid precipitation It is very acute in areas where metal processing is concentrated. Production leads to the appearance of sulfur oxides in the atmosphere, which cause irreparable damage to flora and fauna.

Of all the above greatest danger represents a phenomenon that is associated with air pollution toxic waste internal combustion engines. Gases rise into the air and cause oxidation. One of the reasons is nitrogen compounds released during the production of materials for construction, building construction, and road construction. They also often result in sediments with low pH.

Interesting Facts:

• On Venus, smog is caused by the concentration of sulfuric acid in the atmosphere.
• On Mars, limestone and marble rocks are also corroded by toxic acid precipitation in the form of fog.

The facts about such precipitation show that the problem of acid rain has existed for millions of years. Their influence has been known on Earth since prehistoric times. Nearly 300 million years ago, the formation of acid rain led to the extinction of 90 percent of species.

Consequences for nature

Precipitation with pH low level pose a danger of global disturbances in the biosphere. What harm do they cause? About what negative consequences of these precipitations, say ecologists:

Consequences for modern humanity

Unfortunately, the substance that makes the greatest contribution to the formation of acid precipitation is only increasing in the atmosphere every year. Acid rain as a global environmental problem has become clear and serious. Their most frequent formation is observed in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Why do the Scandinavian countries suffer more than all others? There are several reasons for this. Firstly, wind transfer of sulfur formations from Central Europe and Britain. Secondly, lakes poor in limestone contribute to acid rain. Reservoirs do not have much ability to neutralize acids.

In Russia, acid precipitation is increasing every year. Environmentalists are sounding the alarm. The atmosphere over megacities is oversaturated chemical elements And dangerous substance. Acid rain and smog are especially common major cities fall out in calm weather. IN Arkhangelsk region acid precipitation is caused by the combustion of low-quality fuel. The problem of environmental pollution in the Arkhangelsk region has not changed for the better for the last ten years and is caused by emissions of chemicals into the atmosphere. These are sulfuric and nitric acids, leading to the formation of acid precipitation. Not in the best possible way The situation is the same in Kazakhstan. There, acid precipitation is associated with the development of mining deposits and the activities of large test sites.

Negative consequences as a result of acid rain are observed in all countries without exception. As a result of their loss, not only the environment suffers. Chronic diseases such as allergies and asthma are becoming more acute among the population. The problem is becoming more acute because it has a great negative impact on health modern people. It has been scientifically proven that they cause an increase in the number of cancer tumors. The main cause of precipitation is harmful emissions, which humans are unable to avoid. This is why doctors advise against getting out in the rain, protecting yourself with raincoats and umbrellas, and washing thoroughly after a walk. The consequences can be intoxication and the gradual accumulation of toxins in the body.

Children, young people and older people suffer from allergies and asthma

If you ask the question: name the areas where acid rain most often forms? The answer is quite simple: in places with the greatest concentration of various industries and vehicles. However, identifying a top region in this regard is not so easy. Why is acid rain dangerous? Because due to the wind changing its direction, precipitation can fall many kilometers from a metropolis or test site.

Control measures

The causes of acid precipitation have been studied quite fully. Despite this, the problem of acidic hydrometeors is only growing. Much has been said about how to combat acid rain, but the scale of the environmental disaster is only increasing in scale. Examples of solving the problem are demonstrated in many developed countries.

Acid rain as a global environmental problem along with such a problem as ozone holes, does not have a radical and quick solution. Many scientists and environmentalists believe that due to development modern economy it is generally impossible to do this. To the question: explain, provide evidence, they present graphs and tables of studies that indicate an increase in the degree of danger to nature and humans. Now the solution to the problem is to reduce harmful emissions. The cause of the negative phenomenon must be eliminated. To do this, the following methods of combating acid rain are used:

• reducing the sulfur content in fuel reduces the causes of acid precipitation;
• the operation of high pipes in enterprises represents modern ways to solve the problem;
• improved technology eliminates the causes and consequences of harmful emissions;
• Liming of reservoirs is also an effective way to solve the problem.

It is worth noting that there is still not even a hint that in the foreseeable future methods will be created to minimize the negative impact of acid precipitation on humans and nature.

Acid rain is a common problem in many areas around the world. They represent serious danger for humans and the environment. Therefore, you should deal with this problem correctly and identify it in a timely manner, which will help you protect yourself from such a negative impact.

Acid rain - what is it?

It is believed that any precipitation should have an acidity in the range of 5.6–5.8 pH. In this case, the water that falls in a particular area is a slightly acidic solution. It does not pose a danger to the environment and is harmless to people.

What is acid rain

If the acidity of precipitation increases, it is called acidic. Normally, rain has slightly acidic properties, which is explained by a chemical reaction that occurs in the air between carbon dioxide and water. As a result of this interaction, a carbonic acid. It is this that gives rain its slightly acidic properties. The increase in acidity of sediments is explained by the presence in the composition lower layers atmosphere of various pollutants.

More often this phenomenon caused by sulfur oxide. It undergoes a photochemical reaction, which leads to the formation of sulfuric anhydride. This substance interacts with water, which ends with the formation sulfurous acid. It gradually oxidizes high humidity air. As a result, particularly dangerous sulfuric acid is formed.

Another substance that causes acid rain is called nitric oxide. It also reacts chemically with air and water particles, forming dangerous compounds. The main danger of such precipitation is that it does not differ in appearance from ordinary ones in color or smell.

Causes of acid rain

The causes of precipitation with increased acidity are called:

Why does acid rain form?

• exhausts Vehicle that run on gasoline fuel. Upon combustion harmful substances enter the atmosphere, polluting it;
• operation of thermal power plants. Millions of tons of fuel are burned to produce energy, which has a negative impact on the environment;
• extraction, processing and use of various minerals(ore, gas, coal);
• consequence of volcanic eruptions when a lot of acid-forming emissions enter the environment;
• active processes of decomposition of biological residues. As a result, chemically formed active compounds(sulfur, nitrogen);
• activity industrial facilities those involved in metalworking, mechanical engineering, production of metal products;
• active use of aerosols and sprays containing hydrogen chloride, which leads to air pollution;
• use of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. They operate using freon, the leakage of which is especially dangerous for the environment;
• production building materials . During their manufacturing process, harmful emissions are generated that cause acid rain;
• soil fertilization with nitrogen-containing compounds which gradually pollute the atmosphere.

Impact of acid precipitation on humans and the environment

Sediments contaminated with acidic substances are very dangerous for the entire ecosystem - flora, fauna and humans. Such rains can provoke serious environmental problems that require an integrated approach to solving them.

When acid rain gets into the soil, it destroys the nutrients necessary for normal plant growth. They draw metals that are dangerous to humans (lead, aluminum) to the surface of the soil, which were previously in an inactive state. With prolonged exposure to this factor on the soil, it becomes unsuitable for growing crops. And to restore its properties requires more than one year and painstaking work of specialists.

Precipitation with high acidity has the same negative impact on the condition of water bodies. They become unsuitable for fish life and algae growth, since their balance is disrupted. natural environment a habitat.

Also, high acidity of precipitation leads to air pollution. Air masses are filling up a huge amount toxic particles that are inhaled by humans and remain on the surface of buildings. They destroy paint and varnish coatings, facing materials, and metal structures. As a result, it is violated appearance buildings, monuments, cars and everything that is in the open air.

Consequences of acid precipitation

Acid rain leads to global environmental problems that affect every person:

• the ecosystem of water bodies changes, which leads to the death of fish and algae;
• water from polluted reservoirs cannot be used due to the increased concentration of toxins in its composition;
• damage to the foliage and roots of trees, which leads to their death;
• soil where precipitation is constantly acidic becomes unsuitable for the growth of any plants.

Acid rain negatively affects not only the state of flora and fauna, but also human life. The death of livestock, commercial fish and crops negatively affects the economic situation in the country. And damage to property (cladding of buildings, objects representing architectural or historical memory) leads to additional expenses for their restoration.

Such precipitation has an extremely negative impact on public health. People with chronic diseases respiratory system Those caught in the area affected by acid rain will feel a deterioration in their health.

Plants, fish, and animals located in areas where such precipitation is constantly observed are very dangerous for people. By regularly consuming such foods, mercury, lead, and aluminum compounds enter the body. Substances found in acid rain cause serious pathologies in humans. They disrupt the functioning of the cardiovascular system, nervous system, liver, kidneys, cause intoxication, genetic mutations.

How to protect yourself from acid precipitation

Acid sludge is a serious problem in China, Russia and the United States, where many hazardous metal and coal mining operations are located. It is impossible to combat this problem locally. It is necessary to take comprehensive measures to ensure interaction between several states. Scientists around the world are developing effective treatment systems that will minimize harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

An ordinary person can protect himself from the effects of acid rain with an umbrella and a raincoat. It is recommended not to go outside at all bad weather. When it rains, you must close all windows and do not open them for some time after it ends.

Normal rainwater has a slightly acidic reaction, since the air where moisture particles are formed contains carbon dioxide. But if the atmosphere has a high content of pollutants emitted as a result of the operation of cars, metallurgical enterprises, power plants and other human activity, then the water reacts with these compounds and its pH decreases. It contains sulfuric, nitrogenous, sulfurous, nitric and other acids. And when they fall on the ground in the form of rain, snow or other types of precipitation (including fog), these substances interact with the environment and have a detrimental effect on it.

Consequences of acid rain

If acid rain is observed in the area of ​​​​reservoirs - over rivers, lakes, seas, then the water in them also gradually begins to oxidize, although with small impacts it actively resists changes in pH. But if acid rain occurs regularly, then this resistance decreases, as a result ecological state reservoirs are deteriorating. At high concentration acids in water begin to kill the creatures living in it, most often insects. For example, mayflies cannot live at a pH greater than 5.5. Fish are more resistant to such pollution, but if the insects die, the chain is inevitably broken: for example, trout that feed on these are faced with a lack of food. As a result, the number of fish in the reservoir also decreases.

Some fish can exist in acidic water, but cannot raise offspring in it, which also leads to the death of the population.

When acid rain falls on forests, tree leaves are destroyed and fall off. Most often these are affected tall trees, which end up in acid clouds. Light precipitation with high acidity destroys forests more slowly and imperceptibly: they gradually reduce soil fertility and saturate it with toxins, plants begin to get sick and slowly die out.

Cars that cause air pollution then begin to suffer from them: acid precipitation destroys their protective coatings. Such rains are no less dangerous for structures created by man: buildings and monuments made of marble or limestone are literally corroded, as calcite is washed out of them.

Granite and sand rocks are more resistant to acids.

Acid rain also poses a threat to human health. Outwardly, they are impossible to distinguish, they look like ordinary rain, do not have a specific smell or taste and do not lead to unpleasant sensations on the skin. You can be exposed to acids not only during precipitation, but also while swimming in a river or lake. This leads to increased risk cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases - asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis.

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Tip 2: How dangerous is waste from batteries?

Batteries and accumulators are considered hazardous waste. They are made up of different chemicals that allow them to work through reactions. Some of these substances, such as nickel and cadmium, are highly toxic and can cause harm to people and the environment.

In particular, they can contaminate water, soil and damage wildlife. Cadmium can harm microorganisms and negatively affect the decomposition of organic matter. It can also accumulate in fish, reducing their quantity and making them unfit for human consumption.

In addition, batteries contain alkaline and acidic components, heavy metals (mercury, lithium, lead, zinc, cobalt).

Which batteries are more dangerous - disposable or rechargeable batteries?

Both disposable and rechargeable batteries are used in households.

Batteries are used in mobile phones, laptops, computers, digital video cameras, and cameras. They contain environmentally hazardous nickel and cadmium compounds, nickel hydride and lithium.

Disposable batteries are used in flashlights, toys, smoke detectors, wall clocks, calculators, radios and remote controls. remote control. These are alkaline batteries in which chemical reaction turns into electric. They contain zinc and manganese. Disposable batteries are less harmful than rechargeable batteries, but they are more likely to be thrown away and generate more waste.

What happens to used batteries and accumulators

When they are thrown away with other trash, batteries end up in landfills. Their toxic components penetrate into the water and soil, polluting lakes and streams, making the water unsuitable for drinking, fishing and swimming. If it rains over such a place, toxic substances will penetrate deeper into the soil along with the rainwater. There will be an increased likelihood that they will fall into groundwater.

Some chemical substances from batteries and accumulators can react with other debris, and then they form very dangerous compounds.

In some cases, toxic substances can cause serious harm to humans, animals and plants. For example, this occurs when small amounts of waste are repeatedly dumped in the same place, or when large amounts of toxic waste are dumped at one time.

Humans and animals can be exposed to harmful components through inhalation, ingestion and skin contact. For example, a person may inhale contaminated water vapor while taking a shower. He may also eat foods contaminated with toxic substances. The most common type of poisoning of the human body with toxic substances occurs due to contaminated drinking water. If a toxic substance gets on human skin, infection also occurs.

The consequences of such exposure for human health can be very different, from skin burns if alkaline battery to chronic diseases.

With constant exposure toxic substances Diseases such as cancer, liver failure, and delayed development and growth in children may develop. The danger from toxic substances also lies in the fact that some of them accumulate in the body and do not manifest themselves immediately. When their number reaches a critical level, serious problems with health.

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