Effects of Acid Rain:
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Damage to Vegetation:
- Acid rain can damage plants by leaching essential nutrients from the soil, making it harder for plants to absorb them.
- It can directly harm plant tissues, causing leaves to turn yellow, brown, or die.
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Soil Degradation:
- Acid rain lowers the pH of soil, making it more acidic. This harms soil organisms and reduces soil fertility.
- It can also release toxic metals, like aluminum, from the soil, which can harm plants and aquatic life.
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Water Pollution:
- Acid rain lowers the pH of water bodies (lakes, rivers, etc.), making them more acidic. This harms aquatic organisms like fish and amphibians.
- Species that are sensitive to pH changes, such as many fish species, can be killed or have their reproductive processes disrupted.
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Corrosion of Buildings and Structures:
- Acid rain reacts with minerals in stone and metal, leading to corrosion, deterioration, and damage to buildings, monuments, and statues.
- Notable examples include the erosion of marble structures and the degradation of metal surfaces.
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Human Health:
- While acid rain itself doesn’t pose a direct health risk to humans, the pollutants that cause it (sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) can contribute to respiratory problems, such as asthma and bronchitis.
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Impact on Ecosystems:
- Acid rain disrupts ecosystems by altering the balance of species in affected environments. For example, changes in soil and water pH can lead to the decline or loss of certain species while favoring others.