Acid rain itself doesn't directly cause air pollution in the sense of creating new pollutants. Instead, the pollutants that cause acid rain contribute to air pollution by forming harmful particulate matter. Specifically:
The primary pollutants responsible for acid rain – sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) – react in the atmosphere to produce fine sulfate and nitrate particles. These particles are then inhaled deep into people's lungs, posing a significant risk to human health and contributing to general air pollution.
Here's a breakdown:
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SO2 and NOx Emissions: Acid rain precursors like SO2 and NOx are released into the atmosphere, often from the burning of fossil fuels.
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Atmospheric Reactions: These gases undergo chemical reactions in the atmosphere, often with water, oxygen, and other chemicals.
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Formation of Particulate Matter: These reactions create fine particulate matter, specifically sulfate and nitrate particles. These particles are a major component of air pollution.
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Health Impacts: Because of their small size, these particles can penetrate deep into the respiratory system, causing or exacerbating respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis, and contributing to cardiovascular problems.
Therefore, while acid rain is a distinct environmental problem, the pollutants that cause acid rain also play a key role in contributing to dangerous levels of air pollution, particularly by creating harmful particulate matter.
