User:Emalone66/Acid rain

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Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it has elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). Most water, including the water we drink, has a neutral pH that exists between 6.5-8.5, but acid rain has a pH level lower than this and ranges from 4-5 on average. [80] [81] The more acidic the acid rain is, the lower its pH is. It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure. [81]

Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. Some governments have made efforts since the 1970s to reduce the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere with positive results due to the widespread research on acid rain starting in the 1960s and the publicized information on its harmful effects. [10] The main cause of sulfur and nitrogen compounds that result in acid rain are from human sources, but nitrogen oxides can also be produced naturally by lightning strikes, and sulphur dioxide is produced by volcanic eruptions. Acid rain has been shown to have adverse impacts on forests, freshwaters, and soils, kills insect and aquatic life-forms, and causes paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and weathering of stone buildings and statues as well as having impacts on human health. Acid rain has hurt species who cannot hatch eggs that survive acid rain and also kills living species including that of insects and aquatic life-forms.[55] Acid Rain also damages the balance in soils and microbes in the soil could be killed as a result.[57] This also impacts plant life due to changes in the soil and the environment the plant is growing in.[60] Acid rain also damages infrastructure by wearing down certain materials that don't stay intact against the chemicals in acid rain. While acid rain doesn't have direct affects on human health, it does play a minor part in heart and lung problems due to an increased level of particles in the air. [72]

add new references through the article when moved from sandbox:

80. https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/drinking-water-regulations-and-contaminants

81. https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what-acid-rain