4.11 - Gas pollution

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is a gas that is added to the atmosphere when there is the combustion of fossil fuels:
-In factories (fossil fuels being burnt)
- From cars (let out SO2)

SO2 + H2O ----> Sulphuric acid
this combines to make clouds and creates acid rain.

Acid rain affects plants and animals:
-Trees are burnt by the direct effect of the acid
-Plants don't absorb Mg or Ca so the plants suffer of chlorosis
-The precipitation will produce streams and then go into lakes which makes the lakes more acidic and it makes aluminium
-The Al causes a thickening of the mucus on the gills. this reduces the fishs ability to take in oxygen from the water (kills the fish through suffocation)

Carbon Monoxide
This combines with the haemoglobin inside red cells and forms carbaminohaemoglobin. This blocks the hemoglobin from carrying oxygen.
This reduces the oxygen circulation. Too much Carbon monoxide can be fatal.