Wet Deposition (Acid Rain): Gaseous pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals in the atmosphere to form s

Here are two ways pollutants in the air can enter and contaminate soil and water:

1. Wet Deposition (Acid Rain): Gaseous pollutants like sulfur dioxide ($\text{SO}_2$) and nitrogen oxides ($\text{NO}_x$) react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals in the atmosphere to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These acids then fall to the Earth as acid rain, contaminating soil by altering its pH and leaching nutrients, and polluting water bodies, harming aquatic life.
2. Dry Deposition: Particulate matter (e.g., dust, soot, heavy metals) and gaseous pollutants can directly settle out of the atmosphere onto soil and water surfaces without precipitation. These deposited substances can then accumulate in the soil, be absorbed by plants, or dissolve into surface water, leading to contamination.