These primary air pollutants arise from the use of coal in the production of electricity and from fuel combustion in vehicles. Once released into the atmosphere, they can form pollutants as nitric acid and sulfuric acid, both of which dissolve easily in water.

The resulting acidic water appears as acid rain, snow, or fog. The interactions between living organisms and their habitats are extremely complex.

If the number of species changes in response to acidification, then the ecosystem is likely to be affected through the predator-prey relationships of the food web. As acidity increases, more and more species of plants and animals decline or disappear. Animals dependent on aquatic ecosystems are also affected.

Both natural vegetation and crops can be affected.

The protective waxy surface of leaves is damaged and disease resistance can be altered. It may even affect plant germination and reproduction, accelerate soil weathering and remove nutrients. It can even make some toxic elements, such as aluminum, more soluble. High aluminum concentrations in soil can prevent the uptake and use of nutrients by plants.

The effects on terrestrial wildlife are hard to assess. Acid deposition may cause population decline as the vegetation and prey decline.

The food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe are likely to have come in contact with acid deposition.

Human beings are also affected by acid rain production too.

Lower productivity in fisheries, forestry, and agriculture translates to lower profits and fewer jobs for some industries.

Acid deposition causes accelerated corrosion, fracturing, and discoloration of buildings, structures, and monuments.

Our health is not spared either. We eat food, drink water, and breathe air that has come in contact with acid deposition.

And there this pollution can respirator problems among children and asthmatics. Acid deposition can make its way into untreated drinking water supplies that cause food poisoning for us.