Acid in the Water: A Global Crisis That Needs Urgent Action

Ocean acidification has often been described as climate change's "evil twin," yet its effects go well beyond just being unpleasant. Human activity is at fault here - ocean acidification poses an existential threat to almost every aspect of marine and riverlife life on Earth.

 

Acidic water can be defined as water with a pH below 7, meaning there are more hydrogen ions present than is typical. H+ ions, being positively charged, tend to attach themselves positively charged H+ ions with carbonate ions which have negative charges; binding them together and creating bicarbonate ions makes it harder for shell-building organisms to extract enough calcium ions for their shells and homes.

 

Acidic water in lakes can create serious health concerns for its inhabitants, including neurological damage, kidney stones and gallstones, as well as liver failure. Furthermore, acidic waters may clog gills of fish leading to their asphyxiation; interfere with reproductive systems by decreasing calcium concentration levels so female fish cannot produce eggs easily; and compromise reproduction processes as fish populations decline over time.

 

Acidic water can also have serious repercussions for industrial machinery. It can lead to corrosion of copper and iron metals, and create scale deposits on pipes which affect system and machine functions. Therefore, it is vitally important that you know how to accurately identify the pH level in your home or workplace using a pH sensor or test kit - and provide enough information about potential issues due to acidic water.

 

 Reasons for Acidification of Water

One among the most problems associated with global warming, the acidification of water remains on top. Green house gases- specially Carbon Di Oxide or CO2 is one among the major source of Ocean acidification.

 

 

 There are various reasons which can't be ignored when it comes to the water acidification. Those reasons are given below:

 

  High Concentration of CO2-  Ocean sink 30 percent of total Carbon Di Oxide into nature, which means the more CO2 will lead to more acidification of the Oceanic Body. 
 
  Burning of fossil fuels- Various Industries still are surviving on Fossil fuels alone, and the clean energy sources are not available to run the entire world. 
 
  Cement manufacturing - Cement Manufacturing also causes for Pollution.
 
  Chemical reactions causing high concentration of hydrogen ions, decrease in carbonate ions, loss of biodiversity, production alterations of biogas, lack of environmentally friendly laws and regulations are some other causes of water acidification.

  However, the cause for fresh water acidification is the acid rain.  

There are some solutions to prevent the water acidification, and these are as follow:

 

Buffer solution: The soil usually has substances that ensure that the pH is neutral and that the acid will be removed. The Buffer solution. If the buffer solution is finished then the soil will become acid. This may cause toxic chemicals or nitrate to be released. The rain will cause the nitrate or the toxic chemicals to rinse out the surface water or ground water, causing them to contaminate water.

 

Land-use changes: Livestock introduction into the catchment.

 

Use of nitrogen fertilizer. Increased efficiency of drainage. Dry deposition of air pollutants. Wet

deposition of sulfuric and nitric acids.
 

It will be a combination of the above factors that will lead to freshwater acidification.

 

 

Measures needed are:  

 

Some countries try de-acidification of the lakes by adding a suspension of calcium carbonate. 

 

It is also possible to stop the environmental acidification by reducing the use of SO2 (Sulfur dioxide), NOx and NH3 (Ammonia). Lowering the use of these substances is done by using low-Sulphur fuel, or flue gas desulphurization.

 
Ratification of legislations that can ensure that the waste handling, among other pollution-risk activities are controlled. Such regulations would spread to the fisheries department to ensure that safety is maintained in food consumption. 

 

Civil Education 

 

 Governments and international organizations can come up with some platforms where they educate or sensitize the common citizens on the risks posed by the climate change and ocean acidification. Such initiatives can instill some self triggered discipline that acts as guidance for the quest to environmental conservation.