Acid rain is caused when fossil fuel emissions combine with water in the atmosphere. The environmental effects of acid rain include the acidification of lakes and streams, damage to trees at high altitude, the acceleration of decay in buildings and poorer air quality. Acid Rain also poses serious human health risks by contributing to heart and lung disorders such as asthma and bronchitis. Through the Acid Rain Program and other Clean Air initiatives, the EPA monitors and seeks to reduce the effects of acid rain by regulating industrial emissions and advocating energy efficiency alternatives and pollution prevention programs

Recommended EPA Web pages

• Acid Rain
  Acid rain is a serious environmental problem that affects large parts of the United States and Canada. Acid rain is particularly damaging to lakes, streams, and forests and the plants and animals that live in these ecosystems.
• Effects of Acid Rain
  Document addresses environmental effects of acid rain.
• Technical Document: EPA's Draft Report on the Environment 2003: 1.2: Acid Deposition
  Provides information about acid deposition.

Air Pollution
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