Materials degradation and acidic deposition: Final report

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6741609

Bernabo, J C; Smythe, K D

This report reviews the potential role of acidic deposition on the degradation of materials in the United States. The report identifies major types of materials (stone, metals, concrete, painted surfaces, ceramics, rubber) exposed to the outdoor environment, their distribution within the environment, and the nature of deterioration processes that may affect them. The extent to which acidic deposition may accelerate natural deterioration rates is examined, and key uncertainties in scientific understanding of the dose-response relationships are noted. Because of these major uncertainties, the report does not attempt to develop cost estimates for materials damage from acidic deposition. Such estimates would require not only accurate inventories of material usage and dose-response functions for specific pollutant exposures and degradation processes, but also an understanding of consumer maintenance practices and societal adjustments to changes in the durability of materials. The report summarizes the published, peer-reviewed literature on the relation between acidic deposition and materials damage. It also identifies the major uncertainties in scientific knowledge on the role of acidic deposition in degrading materials, and highlights key research programs planned and underway to resolve the major uncertainties. 178 refs., 9 figs., 15 tabs.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA); Science and Policy Associates, Inc., Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6741609
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EA-5424; ON: TI89001771
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BUILDING MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEPOSITION
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ACID RAIN
AIR QUALITY
PROGRESS REPORT
REVIEWS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
MATERIALS
RAIN
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)