Causes And Effects Of Acid Rain

             NOX emissions, unlike sulfur dioxide, are produced mainly by the combustion of fuels in motor vehicles, residential and commercial furnaces, industrial and electrical-utility boilers and engines and other equipment. The transportation sector accounted for fifty-three percent of all nitrogen oxide emissions in nineteen-ninety-eight. (Figure 1.2) While the U.S. produced twenty-three point seven million tonnes, Canada only produced two point one million tonnes. This figure has remained relatively the same since the late nineteen-eighties. (Environment Canada, "Acid Rain and the Facts") .
             When nitrogen oxide (NOX) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are released into the atmosphere two types of acid rain are formed. The first is sulfuric acid rain. This occurs when sulfur dioxide reacts with moisture found in the atmosphere. When this happens, sulfur dioxide immediately oxidizes to form a sulfite ion. (Figure 1.3) It then becomes sulfuric acid when it joins with hydrogen atoms in the air. (Figure 1.4) The other type of acid rain is nitric or nitrous acid. When nitrogen oxide rises up into the atmosphere, it reacts with water to form nitric acid rain. (Figure 1.5) These acids are often times carried over long distances by wind before they reach the earth as acidic precipitation. Damage from these rains occurs when the environment cannot neutralize the acid. (Sarn, Phamornsuwana "Causes, Effects and Solutions of Acid Rain") .
             Acid precipitation is responsible for the degradation and destruction of forests, plants, animals, man-made objects and humans themselves. Acid rain often slows down the growth of entire forests by slowly killing the leaves on trees or limited the minerals necessary for a tree to grow of survive at all. An acidic soil brings aluminum to the roots instead of the magnesium and calcium needed for the growth and development of the tree. Many times, acid rain can completely destroy forests. (Figure 1.