ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PAPER

Question What are the causes and effects of acid rain in China?

Juhyung Lee P. 1/6

Background Amongst all the air pollution problems in China, acid rain is the biggest one. Acid rain is a form of acid deposition where the rainfall reacts with air contaminants of sulfur oxides and nitrogen. When acid rain reaches Earth, it flows across the surface and sinks into the soil, and also enters water systems. Becoming the world's biggest sulfur dioxide polluter since late 1970s, sulfur emissions led to Chinas environmental degradation, and a serious threat to food safety in one-third of China's territory. According to the state media (BBC), Emissions of sulfur dioxide - the chemical that causes acid rain - were double the acceptable environmental limit/ safe level; in some areas rainfall was 100% acid rain. Causes Chinas rapid industrialization disregarded the environment in order maintain industrial expansion. According to the American chemical society researchers, Many years of record

economic growth have been accompanied by increased energy demand, greater coal combustion, and larger emissions of pollutants.

Numerous power stations and factories are continually being built, and so does industrial gas emissions from factories and power plants. Burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil greatly contributes to acid rain formation. The American chemical society researcher also say, A major cause of acid rain in China is the extensive use of coal, which in 2004

accounted for 69% of the energy production.

In our everyday lives, including the Chinese people, we cook meals and heat our homes by burning an excessive amount coal and oil, using transportation services, like automobiles, which release about half of the worlds nitrogen oxide. Also, the researchers found out that the number of motor vehicles [in China] has increased dramatically in recent years, from 6.2 million in 1990 to 36.0 million in 2003. As the number of automobiles in use increases, so does the amount of acid rain. Other than us humans being the culprits for causing acid rain, the environment also contributes a lot to acid rain formation. The environment doesnt intentionally cause acid rain, natural events that release nitrogen oxide merely occurs. There are uncountable numbers of wildfires and volcanic eruptions on earth that emits harmful gases like nitrogen oxide. In addition, bacterial decomposition and lightening take place everywhere, increasing the oxides of nitrogen on the planet. Effects on the natural environment As soon as acid rain contacts with trees and vegetations, there are several problems that tend to occur. First of all, soil is the basis of nurturing plants by providing essential nutrients such as K (Potassium), Na (Sodium), Ca (Calcium), Mg (Magnesium). When acid rain falls down on the trees and vegetations, the aluminum elements (nutrients) will be released from soil and leached out with the rain. As a result, the soil will become barren and infertile, which slows down the growth of the trees. Secondly, acid rain makes the trees leaves turn brownish-yellow, and disable their ability to carry out photosynthesis properly. In this way, trees wont manage to support themselves properly without food. Lastly, acid rain damages the bark of the trees and makes them vulnerable to diseases, extreme weather, and insects. Then, there are more likely chances that the trees will die quickly, which halt the progress of providing oxygen for all the living things. On earth, the interconnected ecosystem exists along with continuous food chains, which interact one to another. Then, the organisms severely affected by acid rain deposition would influence others. For instance, the more animals are affected by acid rain, the lesser animals would be alive in order to contribute to food chain. So, acid rain basically kills animals by limiting

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Juhyung Lee P. 1/6

their ability to receive food from the nature, disturbs the food chain by not supporting upper-level consumers, and eventually influences humans. Effects on the aquatic environment Because acid rain is a form of wet deposition, where oxidation in the clouds form acidified water droplets, it directly falls down to the majority of Chinese water bodies. The ocean acidification kills ecosystems of lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and other aquatic environments. Acid rains make water acidic and pollute water with pollutants of SO2 and nitrogen. When living things drink from acidified and contaminated rivers, theyll experience severe health problems. Also, acid rain makes the infected water absorb the aluminum that is toxic to crayfish, clams, fish, and other aquatic animals. It also limits the ability of marine organisms to harness calcium carbonate for strengthening their outer shells or exoskeletons. As excess nitrogen continues to affect the marine ecosystem, it promotes increased growth of phytoplankton some of which produce potent chemical toxins and other marine plants that cause harmful algae. According to the China Daily reports, Acidity of rivers and lakes also affects the growth of marine organisms, killing the the food chain, it literally means it diminishes the amount of food present in the ocean, which is the major source of energy for the organisms to live.

lower-level species needed by bigger organisms to survive and disrupting the food chain; where lower-level species are consumed by larger upper-level species. If acid rain disrupts

Effects on the sites and people Acid rain doesnt merely affect the environment; it also highly affects the sites all around the world. By corroding certain materials (metal, stone and cement) by leaving yellowish signs of corrosion, it damages railroad tracks, steel bridges, pipes above and below ground, modern buildings, houses, historical sites (Colosseum Rome), scenic spots (Big Buddha in China). According to the Indian express reports, Acid rain stains Chinas centuries-old

colonial buildings and the world's biggest Buddhist statue. Its nose is turning black, hair curls have fallen from its head and its reddish body is becoming a charred grey color.

Other than acid rain damaging scenic spots and convenient places for people, it also threatens power lines and damages automobiles. The way it deteriorates power lines, and automobiles are the same as corroding materials in them, likely damaging them by making holes and rusting them. Acid rain deposition greatly influences human health as well. Due to acid rain, there are human health hazards of high lung cancer and heart disease rates. The particles of SO2 and nitrogen oxides are easily inhaled and may cause respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. When soil, water and plants soak up acid rain, SO2 from acid rain transfers the pollution to crops and hurt the roots of the crops. This makes it harder for the citizens to live since it makes food lack in China, and Chinese crop farmers and fish farmers will increasingly struggle to earn a living. Additionally, when people and animals visit places where it had been affected by acid rain, its likely to get toxins in their body parts, by touching it for example. And all of the toxins and aerosols would enter their body and may cause severe diseases. Conclusion In China, there are plentiful coal reserves, a huge number of automobiles, and many industries producing energy. People use coal, automobiles and power plants for their own benefit, unaware of the fact that their actions RISK their lives and the ecosystem. It is the environment that made our lives easier, we, humans, are the ones destroying it. So, we are responsible for restoring it back. I hope the Chinese environmental authorities recognize this environmental issue seriously. Moreover, I believe our small efforts, such as conserving energy since energy production cause acid rain, can surely solve the problem and stop further acid rains!

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PAPER

Sources

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