Reducing
IndustryCaused Acid
Rain
Research Report
Alan Lai
Position: Head Chair
Committee: Environment 1
States must use
Pollution Reducing
Technology in all
Industries that contribute
to Acid Rain
Definition of Key Terms
-Acid Rain: Defined in the Oxford Dictionary as
“rainfall made so acidic by atmospheric pollution
that it causes environmental harm, chiefly to
forests and lakes.” (pH of less than 5.6)
-pH: Defined in the Oxford Dictionary as “a figure
expressing the acidity or alkalinity of a solution
on a logarithmic scale on which 7 is neutral,
lower values are more acid and higher values
more alkaline”
Definition of Key Terms (continued)
-Sulfur Dioxide: a colorless, odourless gas that
is released by burning fossil fuels containing
sulfur. This gas causes acid rain
-Nitrogen Oxide: a gas caused by firing
processes and chemical reactions in industry
and cars. This gas causes acid rain
Definition of Key Terms (cont.)
-Industry: Defined in the Oxford Dictionary as
“economic activity concerned with the
processing of raw materials and manufacture
of goods in factories”
-Technology: Defined in the Oxford Dictionary
as “the application of scientific knowledge for
practical purposes, especially in industry”
Sulfur
output
makes
acid
rain
How is Acid Rain formed?
-Gases such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide
(NOx) are produced from industries or other sources
-They get dispersed into the air and then react with the
water (H20) in clouds
-This produces sulfuric acid (H2SO4)and nitric acid (HNO3)
-When it rains, the acids are come down with the rain,
forming acid rain that corrodes buildings and kills plants
Effects of Acid Rain
-Elimination of life in lakes
-Soil make-up is changed; plants die
-Trees are damaged
-Coral can be killed
-Particles in air may cause lung problems
-Damage buildings
Worn down by acid rain.
Acid rain is damaging historical architecture
around the world.
Acid Rain Facts
-Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide
(NOx) are the two leading causes of acid rain
-69.4% of SO2 is produced by industry
-32% of NOx is produced by industry
Topic Summary
Acid rain has the potential to disrupt forest and
marine ecosystems. A large percentage of
harmful gases that cause acid rain comes
from industries. By limiting the amount of
pollution produced by industries, the cases of
acid rain will drop, benefitting the
environment.
Topic Summary
The most effective way for countries to solve
the acid rain is to employ the use of pollution
reducing technology in industry.
These technologies are sustainable and do
not impede an industry’s production.
Topic Summary
Such technologies include:
-Flue-gas desulfurization
-Hydrodesulfurization
-Fluidized bed combustion
Major Parties Involved
-USA: Areas of New York have been
experienced acid rain due to industries in the
Midwest. The US have passed acts such as
the Acid Deposition Control Act and the
Clean Air Act to limit the amount of sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxide that are exposed
to form acid rain.
Major Parties Involved (cont.)
-Norway and Scandinavia: Norway and other
scandinavian countries have suffered from
acid rain. It is caused by harmful gases
produced in mainland Europe and England,
brought by the wind. However, acid rain
levels have decreased due to increased
industry efficiency.
Areas in Norway affected by acid rain
UN Involvement
-Formation of “Convention on Long-range
Transboundary Air Pollution”, for countries to
limit, prevent, and reduce air pollution.
Parties develop policies and strategies to
combat the discharge of air pollutants
through exchanges of information,
consultation, research and monitoring.
Timeline
1600s: Effect of acidic air on marble noted
1852: Robert Smith shows relationship
between acid rain and atmospheric pollution
1853: Acid rain “discovered”
1872: Term “acid rain” coined
1931: First “Flue-gas desulfurization”
technology is employed
Timeline (cont.)
-1979: “Convention on Long-Range
Transboundary Air Pollution” created
Possible Solutions
-Formation of treaties such as the Convention
on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution to
limit the amount of sulfur dioxide and other
harmful gases produced by the industries of
any one country, through the use of
technology
Possible Solutions (cont.)
-Taxes for any additional harmful gases
released above the set limit, to encourage
countries to use pollution reducing
technology in all industries
-Subsidization of these technology by NGOs
or other states to make them affordable for all
countries and all industries.
Bibliography
Phamornsuwana, Sarn. "Causes, Effects, And Solutions of Acid Rain." ACID
RAIN : CAUSES, EFFECTS, AND SOLUTIONS. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec.
2013. <https://sites.google.com/site/acidrain1project/>.
"Acid Rain Questions & Answers." - NYS Dept. of Environmental
Conservation. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8418.html>.
"State of the Environment Norway." : Acid Rain. N.p., Sept. 2013. Web. 28
Dec. 2013. <http://www.environment.no/Topics/Air-pollution/Acid-rain/>.
"Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution - Air Pollution Environmental Policy - UNECE." Convention on Long-range Transboundary
Air Pollution - Air Pollution - Environmental Policy - UNECE. UN, n.d. Web.
28 Dec. 2013. <http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap>.