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Title: Acid rain and environmental policy

Abstract

Various seemingly paradoxical scientific questions are posed which relate to the problem of acid rain and its effect on the environment and environmental policy. The first paradox discussed concerns the supposed increase in fossil fuel usage over the last several decades, with the resultant increases in emissions of pollutants from the combustion of fuels which cause acid rain. Despite these increases, experts do not agree on whether acidity of rain has increased in eastern North America. The second paradox concerns the effect of acid rain on vegetation. If the rain is supposedly harmful, why have some reports shown increases and others, decreases in the growth of crops and trees with the application of simulated acid rain. The third paradox concerns the effect of acid rains on fish life in lakes. If acid rain falls throughout eastern North America, why have some lakes become acid and lost fish populations while others have not. Since unequivocal answers to these scientific questions are not available, a systematic approach is needed for developing policy which can be useful for solving the problem. It appears that traditional cost-benefit analysis can not be the sole basis for decision-making, but that it will be helpful. Research needsmore » must be identified, and the upper and lower limits for alternative strategies must be determined. 14 references, 1 table.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca NY
OSTI Identifier:
5960907
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 31:10
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; ACID RAIN; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; COMBUSTION; ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; FISHES; FOSSIL FUELS; INHIBITION; PLANT GROWTH; POLLUTION SOURCES; STIMULATION; ANIMALS; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; ENERGY SOURCES; FUELS; GOVERNMENT POLICIES; GROWTH; OXIDATION; RAIN; THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES; VERTEBRATES; 290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment, Health, & Safety; 560303 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987); 560305 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)

Citation Formats

Jacobson, J S. Acid rain and environmental policy. United States: N. p., 1981. Web. doi:10.1080/00022470.1981.10465328.
Jacobson, J S. Acid rain and environmental policy. United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1981.10465328
Jacobson, J S. 1981. "Acid rain and environmental policy". United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1981.10465328.
@article{osti_5960907,
title = {Acid rain and environmental policy},
author = {Jacobson, J S},
abstractNote = {Various seemingly paradoxical scientific questions are posed which relate to the problem of acid rain and its effect on the environment and environmental policy. The first paradox discussed concerns the supposed increase in fossil fuel usage over the last several decades, with the resultant increases in emissions of pollutants from the combustion of fuels which cause acid rain. Despite these increases, experts do not agree on whether acidity of rain has increased in eastern North America. The second paradox concerns the effect of acid rain on vegetation. If the rain is supposedly harmful, why have some reports shown increases and others, decreases in the growth of crops and trees with the application of simulated acid rain. The third paradox concerns the effect of acid rains on fish life in lakes. If acid rain falls throughout eastern North America, why have some lakes become acid and lost fish populations while others have not. Since unequivocal answers to these scientific questions are not available, a systematic approach is needed for developing policy which can be useful for solving the problem. It appears that traditional cost-benefit analysis can not be the sole basis for decision-making, but that it will be helpful. Research needs must be identified, and the upper and lower limits for alternative strategies must be determined. 14 references, 1 table.},
doi = {10.1080/00022470.1981.10465328},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5960907}, journal = {J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 31:10,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981},
month = {Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981}
}