What affect does acid rain have on trees and soil?

Acid rain helps kill trees by making them weak, leaves get damaged, toxic substances are exposed to them, and harm the leaves, nutrients are lost from acid eating away at them.  Soil absorbs all that acid rain has to offer such as tree poisoning aluminum.

 How does the effect of acid rain on trees and soil affect us?

The soil, affected or not, is what we plant our crops in, and when the soil is acidic, the harmful pollutants get into our systems from us eating the food that we grow.  The trees are damaged and weak from the acid rain, so they do not produce as much oxygen, which is what we need to breath.

What happens when lakes and aquatic systems become acidic?

The acid pollutes the water, which contaminates the environment of the fish, killing them.  The pH levels in the water are lowered, and the ecosystem is harmed.  Biodiversity is decreased along with the increased rate of population elimination.  Fish cannot compete for food, so they die or get eaten by others.

How does acidic water systems affect us?

The acid gets into the water and harms all of the organisms in the aquatic systems, we then consume some of these organisms and are therefore affected by the water.

Are the aquatic systems in our area being affected by acid rain?  If yes, to what extent?

Yes the aquatic systems are being affected, 75% of all lakes, and 50% of all streams are acidic.  They are typically in the mountainous areas that have thin and more acid rain susceptible soil. 

What are the danger signs of the effect of acid rain on aquatic systems?

http://www.policyalmanac.org/environment/archive/acid_rain.shtml

http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/effects/index.html

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