The Problem of Acid Rain

In fact, they were much more costly and much less efficient. High sulfur coal could be treated yet this procedure is also expensive. "Washing coal reduces the sulfur content of coal by 20-50%." .
             Laws that have restricted sulfur dioxide emissions are evidence that lake acidification is not as rapid as had been predicted. But small gains cannot erase the very real fact that acid rain is a major environmental threat. .
             Scrubbers could be added to smoke stacks to prevent the SO2 from entering the atmosphere, this too is expensive. "The cost for this is about $100-250 million." Everyone wants a clean environment however no one wants to be the one to pay for it. .
             Acid rain has been associated with the damage to manmade structures. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) mixed with water, causing acid rain, results in sulfuric acid, a potent chemical that can dissolve stone." Acid rain is linked with the deterioration of exposed surfaces of building, monuments and statues. "Buildings that have braved decades are being eaten away by acid rain." Acid rain causes the erosion of buildings and their exteriors to flake away. "Fresh paint on buildings and new cars fades quickly and may be marred with blotches of discoloration or indelible spots." Buildings, monuments and statues are not the only manmade structures that are damaged by acid rain. Acid rain is liable for damage to cars and metal. "Acidification is blamed for the damage to the paint on cars." It is also held responsible for corrosion of exposed metals. Metals are corroding and structures are being eaten way due to acid rain.
             Acid rain poses a hazard to our living earth. It has destroyed the life in thousands of lakes. "In Canadian provinces, thousands of lakes and streams have acid concentrations so high that aquatic food chains are destroyed and fish die off." Acid rain kills fish by disrupting their internal salt balance, causing shock and asphyxiation.