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Soil and Plants
When acid rain falls to the ground of environmental areas, like forests or densely populated ecosystems, the results are most often negative. According to National Geographic, when the soil of a densely-populated forest becomes saturated with acid, the result is the disruption of plant and tree life creating energy during photosynthesis. This may result in plant life becoming sick or dying from large concentrations of acid. When the plant life is killed, the entire ecosystem and food chain is negatively impacted.
Water
When acid rain falls and hits water or flows into water, the result is catastrophic for fish life. The acids accumulate in the water supply, often poisoning fish and other marine lifeforms. If the acid accumulates over a long period of time, the water itself begins to slowly gain acidic properties. Animals that may drink from the water may get sick from large amounts of pollutants in the drinking water. The acid rain does not need to hit directly into the water to be a problem. If enough water accumulates on the surface, erosion will help the acidic chemicals enter into freshwater or saltwater.
Cities and Towns
Acid rain also inflicts damage on urban and rural areas. The Almanac of Policy Issues states that the acid chemicals found in acid rain are sometimes able to strip off the paint of buildings, depending on the strength of the acids. Concrete from buildings or roads are damaged over long periods of time from acid rain, almost eroding away from consistent acid rain flow. Although the damages done to the natural environment are terrible, much of acid rain often hits urban areas first. This is because factories that produce fossil fuel gas emissions are in cities and towns, allowing the acids to rest in rain clouds very close to the metro areas of those fossil fuel plants.
People and Animals
Acid rain can appear in its most damaging form when the rain directly hits living things like people or animals. People or animals who are exposed to acid rain may not know they are being hit by acid rain since sulfuric and nitrate acids are odorless and tasteless. However, the acids are able to be absorbed through skin, breathing, or consuming the rainwater as it falls. Over time, people may be exposed to large amounts of carcinogens or cancer-causing agents because of acid rain. This increases health problems, such as asthma, bronchitis, cardiac system issues, and increases the risk of premature death, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.