Final answer:
Acid rain is caused by sulfur and nitrogen oxides emitted from burning coal and vehicle exhausts. It harms aquatic life, soils, and vegetation and is especially problematic in industrial areas without air pollution controls. Regulations have mitigated acid rain in some regions, but it remains a concern, for example, in both Scandinavia and Northern Canada.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acid precipitation is a concerning environmental issue resulting from air pollution, particularly the emission of sulfur and nitrogen oxides from coal burning and vehicle exhausts. These oxides combine with water in the atmosphere, leading to the formation of acid rain that can lower the pH of precipitation. When this acidic precipitation enters lakes and rivers, it can cause substantial ecological damage, harming aquatic life, soil, and vegetation. In industrial areas that have historically not implemented pollution controls, acid rain has been a significant problem, leading to the destruction of forests and the acidification of lakes and streams.
It is notably a larger issue downwind of areas that burn significant amounts of coal, where pollutants are carried by wind and deposited elsewhere. Acid rain is not caused by a single compound but is a result of a mix of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides. While regulations in North America and Europe have reduced the severity of acid rain, it remains a growing problem in areas like China and India, where industrial emissions are rising. Contrary to one of the original question statements, acid rain continues to be a serious problem in Scandinavia, affecting its lakes and forests.