EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN

1. Acid rain can increase the acidity of lakes, dams and streams and cause the death of aquatic life.
2. Acid rain can increase the acidity of soil, water and shallow groundwater.
3. Acid rain has been linked with the death of trees in Europe and North America. In spite of a great deal of research, no one yet knows exactly how acid rain harms forests. Most of the forests of Europe consist of huge areas of one tree species. This encourages the spread of plant pests and diseases. It seems likely that acid rain weakens the trees, perhaps helped by other pollutants such as ozone, and then leaves the trees open to attack by disease. Acid rain also disrupts the availability of soil nutrients. The final death of a tree may result from a combination of stresses such as heat, cold, drought, nutrient disruption and disease. It seems that the slow-growing, longer lived forests of the North may be more susceptible than the faster growing, shorter lived forests of South Africa.
4. Acid rain erodes buildings and monuments. Acid particles in the air are suspected of contributing to respiratory problems in people.