A Critical Review of Acid Rain: Causes, Effects, and Mitigation Measures

Authors

  • Gratien Twagirayezu State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550002, China and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
  • Jean Claude Nizeyimana University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China and CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
  • Olivier Irumva School of Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China.
  • Charles Ntakiyimana School of Traffic and Transportation, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
  • Fasilate Uwimpaye Institute of Environmental Engineering and Building installations, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-965 Poznan, Poland.
  • Ritha Nyirandayisabye School of Civil Engineering, Fujian University of Technology, Fujian, 350108, P.R. China.
  • Habasi Patrick Manzi University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China and CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
  • Theogene Hakuzweyezu University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China and State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/npgees/v6/5127A

Keywords:

Acid rain, sulphuric, air pollution, ecosystems, nitrogen, monitoring

Abstract

The acidity of rainwater has recently been revealed as a major environmental danger to ecosystems and human health around the world. Therefore, it is very important to know what causes acid rain, its effects, and what might be done about it. This review is based on open-access papers with "acid rain" as a keyword and the present situation of acid rain around the world. Typically, acid rain appears in the form of tiny bits of dry material, snow, and fog that land on Earth. Acid rain commonly has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4, whereas normal rain has a pH of 5.6. The production of electricity, the usage of vehicles, agricultural and industrial activities, etc., all contribute to wet and dry deposition. Acid rain has effects on aquatic environments, animals, plants, soil, global warming, vegetation cover, monuments, buildings, and health. The findings of this research showed that optimizing the use of fossil fuels, transitioning to renewable energy sources, limiting the use of fertilizers and pesticides, conserving energy, restoring the environment, lowering consumption levels, convincing others, educating people, and following regulations are sustainable ways of controlling acid rain. In addition, collaborations between the scientific and policy communities can be considered as a useful instrument. Finally, the issues of acid rain and air pollution should be among the worldwide big projects that require everyone to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.

Published

2023-03-30

How to Cite

Gratien Twagirayezu, Jean Claude Nizeyimana, Olivier Irumva, Charles Ntakiyimana, Fasilate Uwimpaye, Ritha Nyirandayisabye, … Theogene Hakuzweyezu. (2023). A Critical Review of Acid Rain: Causes, Effects, and Mitigation Measures. Novel Perspectives of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences Vol. 6, 23–40. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/npgees/v6/5127A

Issue

Novel Perspectives of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences Vol. 6

Section

Chapters