FREE ESSAY ON ACID RAIN LEGISLATION

ACID RAIN LEGISLATION

Acid Rain Legislation
Acid rain is a destructive force as a result of nature and man colliding. It is formed
through harmful industrial emissions combining with contents of the earth's atmosphere; a
dangerous combination. This prompted governments throughout North America to take action.
Many laws and regulations have been implemented, yet the question still remains, Should
tougher legislation be implemented to force industries to reduce acid rain emissions?
To decide whether tougher legislation should be implemented, one must first understand
the details of what exactly acid rain is. Acid rain is a result of mankind's
carelessness. It travels a long one of the most efficient biogeochemical cycles on earth,
the Hydrologic Cycle. This allows acid rain to distribute itself further away from it's
source causing more than local problems. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is released by fossil fuels
when they undergo combustion. Power plants and other fossil fuel burning industrial areas
release various forms of nitrous oxides (Nox). These two chemical compounds combine with
the water in the atmosphere to form what is known as acid rain.
The main reason that has prompted legislation of industrial emissions from governments is
because of the negative effects they can have on the environment. Acid rain is harmful to
the environment because of it's low pH. It can harm the biotic components of earth, and
also the abiotic components. It's high acidity degrades soil to the point where it cannot
support any type of plant life. Trees in forests are killed over long-term exposure. When
these trees are killed, an imbalance in the hydrologic cycle can occur. Without living
trees to consume the precipitate, it must be consumed by the earth or any other plants.
These will receive an excess of water, causing other problems in the hydrologic cycle.
This in turn causes a chain reaction of death among our forests. Some regions are more
susceptible to acid rain because they don't have enough Alkaline soil to neutralize the
acid before it is able to destroy the rest of the soil or before it can run off into
lakes or rivers. Aquatic environments can be greatly affected by soil runoff. Acidic soil
may run off into lakes and rivers due to erosion, causing acid rain to destroy more
environment. Acid rain aquatic animals as well as aquatic plant life. When acid rain
combines with water in major bodies of water, it not only destroys wildlife habitat, it
destroys our drinking water. An aquatic ecosystem is very dependent on each and every
aspect within itself. Once one species dies off, others that depend on it, will
eventually begin to die off also. This systematic chain continues until the entire body
of water is completely abiotic. The reason acid rain is so effective in destroying
ecosystems is because it harms everything in that particular ecosystem. Being distributed
through the hydrologic cycle, acid rain is capable of destroying everything in it's path.
Many laws and agreements have been implemented by governments in North America to reduce
acid rain emissions. The question governments are asking is: Are these regulations
enough?. One of the more famous laws/organizations implemented by North American
governments was the Clean Air Act which was signed in 1991. Also in 1991, Canada signed
an agreement with the United states concerning air quality. Media explains that the
agreement has enough framework to address all transboundary air pollution issues. It is a
very broad/general agreement that should highly reduce air pollution between these two
major countries of the world. This agreement contains other specific commitments for
emissions reductions relating to acid rain precursors and research as well as a
commitment to review the Agreement in it's fifth year. This allows for expansion of the
agreement in the near future. Research and studies forced by this agreement is also an
intelligent decision among these countries; education is the basis of all knowledge.
Besides agreements and legislation's of sorts, technology is an awesome force in the
reduction of acid rain emissions. The only down side to this technology is that it is
extremely expensive. Scrubbers have been placed in the smokestacks to remove harmful
emissions. Lime is used in lakes to neutralize the low pH levels. Without studies being
conducted and research being taken out on acid rain, these technologies would not be here
today. This is why education may be the ultimate technology in the reduction of acid rain
emissions. Should tougher legislation be implemented to force industry to reduce acid
rain emissions? From an environmental point of view...yes, anything that can be done,
should be done. Whether it be through studies, research, new technologies, anything for
our environment. From an economical point of view...no, technology is very expensive and
hardly affordable in terms of most industries. Technology can reduce the dangers of acid
rain, but at what cost? Tougher legislation should be implemented to preserve our
environments, to preserve our lifestyle, and life on earth.