Decades of Progress at Risk: Acid Rain Threat Returns as US Regulations Weaken

Acid rain, previously a full-blown environmental disaster in North America, will likely make a comeback due to recent rollbacks in anti-pollution policies. Gene Likens, the researcher who discovered acid rain during the 1960s, fears that diminished environmental policies will reverse decades of success in regulating air pollution.

Acid rain is formed when industries’ sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) combine with atmospheric water, forming extremely acidic rain that harms forests, water bodies, and soil quality. Although previous regulatory actions, especially the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, effectively checked this menace, continued policy rollbacks could again result in toxic acidification of the environment. With fewer controls on emissions placed on industries, scientists and green activists are worried that ecosystems, wildlife, and human health might have dire impacts.

Regulatory Reversals and the Risk of Acid Rain’s Return

Acid rain was once a major environmental crisis in North America, caused by sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) released from coal-fired power plants. Gene Likens, the scientist who first documented this phenomenon, now warns that recent policy changes may lead to its resurgence. While past environmental regulations helped mitigate acid rain’s impact, newly weakened protections could bring back this destructive problem.

The 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act were instrumental in reducing air pollution, improving water quality, and restoring damaged ecosystems. However, with over 30 environmental rules being dismantled, concerns are rising that unchecked industrial emissions will again contaminate rainwater, harming forests, lakes, and soil health. Scientists fear decades of environmental recovery may be undone if stringent pollution controls are not maintained.

Environmental and Public Health Consequences of Policy Shifts

Acid rain is an ecological issue and poses serious health risks. The pollutants responsible for acid rain contribute to delicate particulate matter in the air, which has been linked to respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and other health problems. With fewer regulations to limit emissions, communities near industrial regions may face worsening air quality and an increased burden of pollution-related illnesses.

Beyond public health, acid rain has far-reaching environmental effects. It strips soil of essential nutrients, weakens tree growth, and disrupts aquatic ecosystems by making water bodies too acidic for fish and other wildlife. Many of these effects take years to manifest, making it crucial to act before irreversible damage occurs. Scientists and environmental advocates stress the importance of sustained emission controls to prevent widespread ecological degradation.

Industry Influence and the Path Forward

One of the most controversial developments in recent environmental policy is a new provision that allows fossil fuel companies to directly request exemptions from air pollution regulations by contacting the president. This move has sparked outrage among environmental groups, who argue that it prioritises corporate interests over public health and ecological stability. By granting industries greater leeway to bypass pollution limits, critics fear a resurgence of air quality issues once thought to be under control.

As regulatory oversight weakens, experts warn that the United States risks backtracking on hard-won environmental progress. Advocates emphasise the need for stricter enforcement of emission standards, investment in clean energy solutions, and continued air and water quality monitoring. Acid rain and its associated harms could become a pressing national concern without decisive action.

References:
https://www.caryinstitute.org/science/research-projects/acid-rain

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/27/acid-rain-trump-epa

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/icymi-administrator-zeldin-wsj-epa-ends-green-new-deal

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/27/epa-trump-email-fossil-fuel-exemptions

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