1. How does acid rain affect plant life and forest health?

Acid rain damages leaves, removes vital nutrients from the soil, and weakens trees, reducing overall forest health and growth.

2. What are the effects of acid rain on aquatic animals and biodiversity?

Acid rain lowers the pH of lakes and rivers, harming fish, killing amphibians, and reducing biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems.

3. How do different species respond or adapt to increased acidity in their habitats?

Some species tolerate acidity by changing their internal pH balance, but many sensitive plants and animals cannot survive and eventually disappear.

4. What are the health risks, if any, to humans exposed to acid rain or its components?

While acid rain doesn’t burn skin, its components like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can cause respiratory problems and worsen asthma.

5. How have policies like the Clean Air Act impacted acid rain levels worldwide?

Environmental laws like the Clean Air Act have reduced emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, significantly lowering acid rain levels in many countries.

6. What technological solutions exist to reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions?

Solutions include scrubbers in power plants, catalytic converters in vehicles, and cleaner energy sources like wind and solar power.

7. How do industrial activities and urbanization contribute differently to acid rain?

Industrial activities mainly emit sulfur dioxide from burning coal, while urbanization adds nitrogen oxides from vehicles and traffic pollution.