ABSTRACT
Acid precipitation is a rapidly evolving and emerging environmental issue of current times which is a result of our mindless globalization trends, urbanization, and random industrialization. Acid precipitation is a direct contributing factor to air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution claims the lives of approximately 3 million people every year around the world. More than 80% of people in urban areas are exposed to life-threatening air pollution limits. In all, 98% of cities in low economies fail to meet air quality standards. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are the key acid rain pollutants that lead to collateral damage of ecology and human health. Global climate change further induces and accelerates the acid precipitation process. Although Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments, cap and trade program, an enhanced pollutant emission auditing along with using an Atmospheric Acidification Potential Index (AAPI) system were immensely successful at reducing acid rain, more needs to be done with a two-pollutant model to reverse the decades-long accumulation of ecosystem acidification.
