Abstract
PHENOMENON OF ACID RAIN AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
I. Nawaz*
ABSTRACT
Air pollutants are responsible for a number of adverse environmental effects, such as photochemical smog, acid rain, death of forests, or reduced atmospheric visibility. Emissions of greenhouse gases from combustion of fossil fuels are associated with the global warming of Earth?s climate. Certain air pollutants, including black carbon, not only contribute to global warming, but are also suspected of having immediate effect on regional climates. Environmental challenges by their nature are universal. Most of them are harmful for us and also for future generations. This article addresses a particular global challenge of today which is typical of the challenges we are likely to face in future. In recent decades, urbanization and industrialization have been two interlinked phenomena, occurring globally. Apart from the inevitability of these phenomena, one notices their negative effect on global environment and quality of life. An important ill effect of them is abundance of chemical and gaseous wastes. Naturally their safe management has become a major challenge for environmentalists and scientists. A second related problem is the pressure on land, materials and other resources crucial to developmental activities. Various industries as well as automobiles discharge large quantities of liquid and gaseous wastes. This study attempts to identify the pollution hazards due to such discharges and explores possible remedies. The specific instance analyzed in this paper is ?Acid Rain?. Acid rain is likely to bring irreversible ecological changes. It may kill aquatic flora and fauna and slow down the decomposition of organic matter. In addition, it could induce sterility in living beings, retardation in plant growth and reduction in soil fertility. This paper reviews the nature, causes, expected damage and remedies of this serious challenge. Global efforts are needed to tackle it so that future generations can be saved from environmental catastrophe.
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