Acid Rain and All Aspects of Citizen Life - Research Proposal Example

HERE YOUR HERE YOUR HERE HERE Acid Rain: Definition, Impact and Potential Solutions Acid rain appears to be one of the most invasive problems facing contemporary society today. Acid rain occurs when, through a variety of industrial pollutants or natural phenomenon, the pH level of rainwater is changed from that of a basic property to one in which measurable changes in acidity are identified. Acid rain creates a wide variety of problems in the United States and abroad, however there are solutions to combat this growing international, ecological problem. This paper identifies the many causes of acid rain, highlights the impact of changing acidity levels in rainwater, and further proposes potential solutions to combat this issue. Most scientists concur that acid rain is produced by the combination of sulphur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere which become oxidized and form acid (Spellman, 14). In highly industrialized nations, various manufacturing smokestacks and other pollution-generating industrial equipment release sulphur and nitrogen into the atmosphere as a by-product of industrial and chemical activity. For instance, the burning of various fossil fuels creates a chemical reaction which releases sulphur and other harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. The basic physics principle which describes the fact that warm air rises is the primary reason why industrial by-products produced in high temperature environments drift into the atmosphere. Once in place, the oxidized sulphur and nitrogen combine with forming clouds or current rainwater, changing the pH of the water where it can cause significant damage terrestrially. There are additional compounds which speed up the process of absorbing these pollutants, including ammonia and ozone (Rst2.edu, 2). Ammonia is a man-made pollutant pumped into the atmosphere by industrial and chemical activity while ozone exists naturally. These two compounds alter the chemical structure of the sulphur and nitrogen, creating acidic downpour which can leech into environmental systems and cause ecological problems. There are also natural causes of acid rain, including volcanic activity at the Earth’s surface and oil (Rst2.edu, 2). Volcanic activity produces high levels of sulphur which generally rush out of the volcanic opening in a phenomenon known as the pyroclastic flow (Howald, 3). These sulphuric materials are ejected at such high levels of speed that they are thrust high into the upper atmosphere where they are carried by the jet stream, a global air current system. This maintains the ability to carry large volumes of sulphur particles all across the globe, causing international concern when rainwater becomes highly acidic. Oil deposits, in similar accord, create the release of toxic gases under the earth’s surface which are released when the deposits are tapped for extraction in various drilling platforms. Outside of the elements which constitute acid rain, it is important to recognize the many harmful effects of the phenomenon. Acid rain creates environmental damage which impacts the life cycle and longevity of aquatic wildlife. When rainwater mixed with sulphur or ammonia (as two relevant examples) falls to the earth, the acid rain changes the pH of ponds, rivers and lakes, altering the water’s suitability to sustain aquatic life (Chautauqua Dept of Health, 2). Certain fish and invertebrates require a specific pH in order to live and reproduce, which could potentially create a situation in which reproductive systems are affected and animal population sizes are reduced. The long-term effects of changing ecology in terms of animal and aquatic life would be significant and could, potentially, change the balance of nature altogether in certain regions where acid rain is common and highly acidic. Acid rain also causes problems with infrastructure as the constant contact with buildings, cars and even monuments creates a shorter building life cycle (Chautauqua Dept of Health). Over time, the acid rain begins to warp the metallic or concrete structure, causing cracks or corrosion in the structural materials. This allows rainwater to seep into the architecture and, in cold months, freeze. When water freezes it expands, thus acid rain maintains the potential to cause structural problems from deep within as the pressure of expanding water creates structural defects. Additionally, when nitrogen oxide (a common pollutant) is released into the atmosphere through industrial activities, it creates a human health hazard. This compound attacks the respiratory system organs and is a catalyst for respiratory illness (Blenginia, 321). Thus, in environments where smog is ever-present and industrial activity is high, there is the potential for serious social and economic consequences when citizens have both their short- and long-term breathing capacity affected by acid rain. Despite the many problems which acid rain can cause both from an environmental and infrastructure-related perspective, there are a wide variety of actions which can be undertaken to combat the issue. Businesses, politicians and general citizens alike can contribute to reducing acid rain and minimizing its potential impact on the environment. Investing in alternative energy sources is one primary example. Innovalight, a large company in Silicon Valley, has developed a method to harness solar energy using materials which are much cheaper than those involved in earlier solar energy projects. Innovalight’s technology involves the dilution of silicon nanocrystals in ink, designed to be printed onto home’s roofs rather than having thick panels on the structure as in previous years (Krupp, A.20). The use of solar energy will eliminate a wide variety of pollutants such as sulphur and ammonia simply by eliminating the need for excess energy-related industrial facilities. General citizens can also contribute to the reduction of acid rain by utilizing car pools, walking when appropriate, and taking public transportation in their daily activities (DeSombre, 87). The high volume of cars on most urban highways create heavy pollutants, thus by simply reducing daily commuter travel in personal cars there are less emissions being produced. It is also suggested to replace old appliances and various household electronics with more energy-efficient products (Phamornsuwana, 1). These are preventative actions in reducing acid rain. The use of a Life Cycle assessment tool is also proposed as a means to solve problems with acid rain (Blenginia, 320). . This tool measures the entire, projected life of a building from its initial construction until it will have served its long-term purpose. As previously identified, acid rain creates problems with infrastructure, thus the life cycle assessment tool can take into consideration the environmental impact of acid rain in building efficiency and design. From an urban planning or construction perspective, the Life Cycle Assessment tool would identify various materials required to achieve long-term infrastructure stability and might alter the materials used to construct a building. In essence, the Life Cycle Assessment tool might lead to innovations in building and construction technology simply by creating a template where acid rain impact can be measured over the life of the building. The impact of acid rain on wildlife is significant, as previously identified. Animals are one of the primary food sources for humans, thus when their ecological needs are in jeopardy due to changing pH levels in their habitats human are also at risk. If animals perish due to acid rain so too can humans (DeSombre, 86). This points toward activism on behalf of all public citizens and community leaders to work toward legislation which works toward cleaning up various natural environments and regulating the activities which occur within them. For instance, if environmental assessors notice through routine assessments that certain frog populations have been reduced due to high acidity in the water, this would allow scientists to develop efforts to assist the frogs in reproduction in a controlled environment. These new frogs (or other creatures) can be released into their natural environment directly from a lab environment, thus ensuring population survival amidst an acid rain crisis. This may represent a cost issue from a political perspective, however it would be a viable solution in the event that emissions-reduction efforts are not succeeding in the industrial and chemical manufacturing business environments. There are likely additional causes of acid rain, however the evidence provided indicates that acid rain maintains the potential to cause widespread harm all across the globe. High concentrations of sulphur, nitrogen oxide and ammonia within the atmosphere is a situation which requires immediate intervention as these compounds are toxic to the human condition, destructive to animal longevity, and jeopardizes ecological sustainability. The premature destruction of infrastructure and various buildings across the world is a significant problem due to the high costs of construction and the importance of residence and commerce across the globe. Most community and urban planners are creating construction projects with the notion in mind that it will be a long-term investment which will serve profit objectives and also serve the community in which it was built. When constant costs for building repair and exterior refurbishment are being incurred due to high-pH acid rain, this represents a problem where business’ strength and competitive advantage can be affected. Clearly, infrastructure is of paramount concern when creating policies and efforts to combat acid rain. Though the majority of solutions to combating acid rain involve higher-profile actions, such as the creation of emissions-reduction legislation or environmental initiatives, the general citizen should be aware of their individual role in reducing acid rain. Toxic chemicals in the atmosphere leading to global problems in a wide variety of human, environmental and animal affairs is something which suggests a community-minded approach where all citizens and leaders are working toward a cleaner ecology at an international level. Acid rain simply appears to be a problem which has occurred as a product of industrialization and the demand for modernism in all aspects of citizen life. Higher manufacturing demand creates more factories which in turn creates additional pollutants in a variety of regions. More jobs creates higher volumes of cars, pushing upward the emissions from auto exhaust systems. The general advancement of human-kind has created increased momentum of this problem, however it is certainly not an impossible problem to solve. Through a series of environmental clean-up and improvement efforts, the Life Cycle assessment tool, community focus on energy-efficiency, and the development of alternative energy production it will serve to, at least, make a dent in the growing problem of acid rain. With so much at stake, it would be somewhat irresponsible to pretend the problem does not exist or fail to create workable policies designed to eliminate airborne pollutants. Bibliography Blenginia, Gian A. “Life cycle of buildings, demolition and recycling potential: A case study in Turin, Italy”. Building and Environment. Vol. 44, Iss. 2, 2008. Chautauqua Dept of Health. “Acid Rain Monitoring”. Chautauqua NY Dept of Health. 2007. Retrieved 12 Nov 2008 from . DeSombre, Elizabeth R. Domestic Sources of International Environmental Policy: Industry, Environmentalists, and U.S. Power – American and Comparative Environmental Policy. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 2000. Howald, Trevor V. “Pyroclastic Flows with Emphasis on the Bishop Tuff”. Indiana University. Retrieved 12 Nov 2008 from Krupp, Fred. “Climate Change Opportunity”. Wall Street Journal. New York, NY. 8 Apr 2008. Phamornsuwana, Sarn. “Causes, Effects, and Solutions of Acid Rain”. 2008. Retrieved 12 Nov 2008 from Rst2.edu. “What Causes Acid Rain?”. 2007. Retrieved 12 Nov 2008 from Spellman, Frank R. The Science of Environmental Pollution. Lancaster, PA: Technomic Publishing, 1999. Read More