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Environmental Impact Of Acid Rain
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Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): These are
the chemical that are used in industry, refrigeration, air-conditioning
system and consumer products. Whenever CFCs are released into the air,
they reduce the stratospheric ozone layer. The stratospheric ozone layer
protects earths surface from the harmful rays of the sun.
Lead: Lead
is released by house and car paint as well as the manufacturing of lead
batteries, fishing lures, certain parts of bullets some ceramic ware,
water pipes and fixtures. In young children, lead can cause nervous
system damage and learning problems.
Nitrogen oxides (NO): Nitrogen oxides are released into the air by burning fuels such as gasoline and coal.
When
Nitrogen oxides combine with Volatile Organic Compounds, they can cause
breathing difficulty in people who have asthma, coughs in children and
general illness in your respiratory system.
Ozone: Ozone is released
by motor vehicles, industries, burning coal, gasoline and other fossil
fuels, and in the chemicals that are in hairspray and paints. When ozone
is close to the ground, it can cause chest pain, irritated respiratory
tract, or persistent cough, can make unable to take deep breaths, and
can make you more likely to get lung infections.
Sulphure dioxide
(SO2): Sulphure dioxide are released by burning coal, paper production
and melting metal sulphure dioxide can harm vegetation, harm metal and
cause lung problems, which include breathing problems and permanent lung
damage.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): VOCs are released into
the air by burning gasoline, wood, coal, or natural gas, solvents,
plants, glues and other products that are used at work or at home.
EMPIRICAL MEASUREMENT OF ACID RAIN (ACIDITY)
The
scale is used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous
solution and is determined by the hydrogen ion content (H+). This scale
was invented by a Denish Scientist called Sorenson in (1909). The scale
ranges from zero, which is strongly acid to 14 which is strongly
alkaline. The scale point 7 being neutral example of solution with
differing pH values include carbattery acid (pH) lemon juice (pH2).
Natural Lemon Juice (pH2) bear (pH4) Natural rain (pH5-6) milk (pH6)
washing-up liquid (pH7) seawater (pH5) milk of Magnesia (pH10) and
Ammonia (pH12).
The pH scale is logarithmic rather than linear and so
there is a ten fold increase in acidity with each pH unit, such that
rainfall with pH is ten time more acidic than pH6, rainfall with pH4 is
100 time more acidic than pH6 and rainfall with pH3 is 1000 time more
acidic than pH6. (Geophy, 1992).
Rainfall acidity is measured in pH
units normalor “unpolluted†rainfall has a pH of 5-6 this is slightly
acidic due to the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which
form weak carbonic acid in water it is not uncommon for acidified rain
water to have a pH of 4 about 30 time as acidic as normal rain water.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To study the effects of acid rain on rocks and building materials.
To highlight the chemical reaction of acid rain on building materials.
To highlight the effects of acid rain on living organisms.
To highlight the effects of acid rain on human health.
To recommend remedial measures containing the effect of acid rain.
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