Home / Health Insurance / Wellness Corner / Acid Rain vs. Normal Rain: Causes, Effects & Mitigation Strategies (EST READ TIME: 3 minutes)

Acid Rain vs Normal Rain

Q: Is acid rain harmful to human health?

Yes, the high acidic content in acid rain may cause new respiratory ailments like asthma or bronchitis. It may also worsen one's existing medical conditions.

Q: What will happen if we touch acid rain?

Acid rain does have a lot of acid content in it; however, it is not too acidic to burn your skin. Your skin will not get damaged if you touch acid rain.

Acid rain is a form of wet precipitation. It contains large quantities of sulphuric acid and nitric acid in it. Unlike normal rain, acid rain can cause the soil to lose its nutrients, and it can also endanger marine life. The leading cause of acid rain is the human-made activity of burning fossil fuels for generating power. Read on to know more.

Differences in composition and impact

Feature	Acid Rain	Normal Rain
pH Level	pH < 5.6	PH – 5.6 (slightly acidic due to CO2)
Cause	Emission of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NO2) from industrial processes & vehicles	Natural processes, primarily CO2 dissolving in rainwater
Composition	Higher concentrations of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO2)	Predominantly water with some dissolved CO2
Effects on Environment	Can damage forests, lakes, rivers, and soil. It can harm wildlife and plants, and contributes to soil degradation	Generally natural effects. Slightly acidic nature can benefit nutrient availability in soil
Impact on Human Heath	Can contribute to respiratory problems, especially in areas with high pollution	Minimal impact; normal rain does not pose health risks
Impact on Infrastructure	Accelerates deterioration of buildings and monuments, especially those constructed with limestone & marble	Minimal impact; normal rain does not cause significant erosion
Geographical Distribution	Occurrence more common in industrial areas and regions with high vehicle emissions	Common globally, with variations based on local CO2 levels and climate conditions

Mitigation Strategies

Mitigating acid rain involves a range of strategies aimed at reducing the pollutants that cause it. Here are key strategies for controlling acid rain:

• Using renewable energy means (solar, wind, etc.) to produce electricity without the need to burn fossil fuels

• Using coal with less sulphur content in power plants

• Manufacturing industries, oil refineries, and other factories can use scrubbers to remove a major chunk of sulphur dioxide from the gases before they leave the factories

• Using catalytic converters in new cars and heavy vehicles to make them greener and cleaner for the environment; this technology reduces the emission of nitrogen oxide to a great extent

• Using public transport, wherever possible

FAQs

1. Is acid rain harmful to human health?

Yes, the high acidic content in acid rain may cause new respiratory ailments like asthma or bronchitis. It may also worsen one’s existing medical conditions.

2. What will happen if we touch acid rain?

Acid rain does have a lot of acid content in it; however, it is not too acidic to burn your skin. Your skin will not get damaged if you touch acid rain.

Conclusion

Human-made activities, such as fossil fuel burning to generate power and air pollution from vehicles and factories are the main causes of acid rain. The gases that cause acid rain are very harmful. When compared to normal rain, acid rain creates quite a lot of harm to human health and the environment. Hence, we have to do all that we can to reduce the instances of acid rain. The above-mentioned mitigation measures can help you do this.

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Source: epa.gov, differencebetween.com

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Kindly contact your Doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.

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Published on October 3, 2024