Acid Rain

Among the countries which most care about their environment is Sweden. However, acid rain is being deposited in their country from several areas.
             Acid rain can alter the eco-system. The acid corrodes buildings, kills and weakens trees and damages crops. When it falls close to water sources, it may release aluminium or cadmium ions from the soil or eroded rocks. This causes all fish eggs to die out, and it will cause the fishes' gills to clog up with mucus, suffocating most the fish and making life in the waters extinct. Acid precipitation also kills amphibians and insects, completely altering the food chain and the eco-system and therefore killing off many other animals as well. Since acid rain can move and be deposited in different countries, the international relations between the countries that are polluting and suffering from acid rain will become tense. Acid rain is also managing to affect humans' health. Dry deposition and contamination of drinking water sources can cause respiratory problems, stomach upsets and cancers. Infra-structure and priceless historical monuments or sculptures are being deteriorated and is causing the United States over 2 Billions dollars in maintenance and restoration.
             This being an international issue complicates any solution for one solution may not be apt or fair for other countries. Even though levels of sulphur dioxide have stabilized in Europe, it is still the greatest causer of acid rain. In the United States, 66% of the Sulphur dioxide is emitted by industries and factories. A possible solution that would greatly decrease the amount of sulphur dioxide released would be to purify the gas prior to releasing it through the factory chimney. Scrubbers or the technique of "FGD ", which is adding lime on the chimney of factories, would eliminate most impurities of the gases released or reduce the SO2 levels. This has been proved very effective because with just a 4% increase in price would reduce the sulphur dioxide levels by 60%.