A newspaper headline reads "Acid Precipitation Not a Threat." The article states that the city's air and nitrogen oxides in the air and recording the pH of precipitation for the past five years. Air samples have been collected daily at two sites: at the busiest downtown intersection and at the entrance to a privately owned electrical power-generating station. On most days, the power station is downwind from the downtown area.

Question

Over the period studied, sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides have increased at both sites, with the power station always having higher levels than the downtown site. However, at no time in the past five years have any of the pollutant levels exceeded the nationally acceptable standards. Moreover, the pH of precipitation has remained essentially the same (slightly acidic) at both monitoring sites throughout the period. City officials have concluded that there is no immediate reason for alarm, that acid precipitation has not been a problem, but that monitoring should continue. The news article, however, goes on to point out that not everyone agrees with the city officials. One resident living 10 miles outside the city is quoted: "The trees on our streets and in our yards are dying from acid precipitation. Five years ago, all our trees were healthy, but we've lost a dozen in this neighborhood in the past two years. We're directly downwind from that power plant, and I know acid rain killed my trees. My neighbors and I are going to sue the power company for losses. " Do you think these residents have the scientific evidence needed to win their lawsuit? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Answer: The residents have scientific evidence to win their lawsuit as levels of oxides of sulfur and nitrogen are keep on increasing. They can reach the atmosphere where they change chemically and fall to earth as acid rain. Acid rain is a rainfall that has a pH level of less than 5.6. Acid rain can be extremely harmful to trees. Acid rain can seep into the ground and can dissolve nutrients, such as magnesium and calcium, and make them unavailable for the plants and trees. Acid rain leaches aluminium from the soil which is harmful to the plants. It can also strip nutrients from trees’ foliage, leaving them with brown or dead leaves and needles.

In this case, as trees are getting destroyed, the cause may be precipitation of acids from the sites into the sky which is responsible for the deaths of trees in the affected areas.

Also as these residents who are 5 miles away are more prone to the symptoms of acid rain as this place is downwind from the power site which is generating or which is ultimately responsible for acid precipitation.