Question

The headlines of a local newspaper read the following:

What could be the possible reason for this tragedy?

• A. The industrial effluents were dumped into waterbody without treatement.
• B. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide combined with water and precipitated.
• C. Combustion of wastes resulting in high carbondioxide content in atmosphere.
• D. Usage of harmful pesticides like endosulfan carelessly

Answer 1

The correct option is B Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide combined with water and precipitated.

Power plants, combustion of fossil fuels, exhausts from vehicles etc releases compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the air. These substances rise very high into the atmosphere and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants like sufuric acid and nitric acid to precipitate as acid rain. The precipitated acidic impurities increases the pH of waterbodies, making the life uninhabitable for aquatic organisms. The crops dependant on these rivers for water are also severely affected.