Acid rain
An overview is presented of acid rain and the problems it causes to the environment worldwide. The acidification of lakes and streams is having a dramatic effect on aquatic life. Aluminum, present in virtually all forest soils, leaches out readily under acid conditions and interferes with the gills of all fish, some more seriously than others. There is evidence of major damage to forests in European countries. In the US, the most severe forest damage appears to be in New England, New York's Adirondacks, and the central Appalachians. This small region is part of a larger area of the Northeast and Canada that appears to have more acid rainfall than the rest of the country. It is downwind from major coal burning states, which produce about one quarter of US SO/sub 2/ emissions and one sixth of nitrogen oxide emissions. Uncertainties exist over the causes of forest damage and more research is needed before advocating expensive programs to reduce rain acidity. The President's current budget seeks an expansion of research funds from the current $30 million per year to $120 million.
- OSTI ID:
- 5100181
- Journal Information:
- Potlatch Story; (United States), Vol. 24:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ALUMINIUM
LEACHING
FORESTS
PRODUCTIVITY
LAKES
ACIDIFICATION
NITROGEN OXIDES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
STREAMS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS
APPALACHIA
CANADA
ECONOMICS
EUROPE
FISHES
GILLS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
SOILS
USA
ANIMALS
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MOUNTAINS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RAIN
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560303 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)
560305 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)