Assessment of the effects of acid rain on the biosphere in Mosul City / Iraq

Abstract

Acid rain is any precipitation with a very low pH, whereas normal rain water is slightly acidic with a pH range of 5-6, but the pH level of rain water falls below this range, becoming acid rain. It happens as a result of wet and dry deposition from the atmosphere of chemical pollutants emitted by various human activities. Dry deposition is more frequent and effective than wet deposition. It was found that the leading cause of acid rain is the emission of gaseous oxides of sulfur, nitrogen and carbon. These environmental pollutants come from various human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, combustible waste, vehicle exhausts, thermal power projects, the combustion of vegetation and wastes of wars. These chemical pollutants interact with different precipitation such as; rain, cloud, fog and snow water, which is formed in the case of sulfuric, nitric and carbonic acids, then shows its impact on the lithosphere, water and atmosphere, in addition to its impact on other ecosystems such as; Forests, agricultural crops, soil, buildings and aquatic organisms, as well as human health. The risk of acid rain is controlled by reducing the emissions of gases to neutralize acidity which requires enacting laws and do enforce efforts to reduce pollution and control acid rain on all production projects. Our current study aims to assess the acidity of the rainwater, and it has been proven that the relative pH of the rainwater in the city of Mosul has decreased in the past two years (2020/2021-2021/2022) from (6.5 to 5.8), which requires knowing its causes, effects, and methods to limiting its consequences.