Enviornmental+Effects

=__**Environmental Effects**__=

As one can see, the measurements of hydrogen ion concentration in precipitation has drastically increased throughout the years of (1994-2009). Beneficially to Earth's climate, acidity levels are slowly but surely being decreased over the years. Acid rain effects a wide variety of things causing many new problems in the environment. Most plants and animals, including humans, can be effected by acid rain in a wide variety of ways, harming the ecosystem.

Fish: Acid rain is diluted by the water it enters, but it lowers the pH levels low enough that it still has harmful effects. Acid rain and increased aluminum levels increase the chronic stress of fish making them become smaller in size and have difficulties in competing for food; fish can even die. If the pH level is below 5.0 fish eggs cannot hatch. This decreases the reproduction rate within a pond. Some ponds with high acidity levels don't have any fish for these reasons.

Trees: Acid rain degrades the amount of nutrients and increases the amount of harmful metal toxins. Different types of soil have a greater buffeting capacity, which means they are more immune to the acid. Trees are not killed, but they become sick, their leaves turn yellow, and toxins like aluminum are deposited in the soil. Visibility: The air pollutants that exist in acid rain refract the light making the air smoky looking and decrease the range of visibility. Humans: Even though the effects of acid rain on humans are not direct, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides particles can cause sicknesses like asthma and bronchitis.
 * 550 premature deaths
 * 1,520 emegency room visits
 * 210,070 asthma symptom days