Acid rain

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Environ. Midwest; (United States)

OSTI ID:5203813

Nelson, S

Acid precipitation is a global problem. The effects were first seen in Europe; it affects the Great Lakes and the Midwest because higher-than-normal levels of acidity in rain are found in these areas. Several bays of the Great Lakes are now known to receive substantial runoff from freshwater streams that have been made acidic by acid rains. These areas may cause small portions of these bays to become acid, or to retain high levels of toxic metals such as cadmium or aluminum. It has been estimated that emissions of sulfur dioxide in North America are about 23 million tons a year. Of this, approximately 19 million tons are emitted from US sources, with 60% coming from the thermal power industry. In eastern Canada, the Commission estimates, some 60% of sulfur dioxide is a product of the non-ferrous smelting industry. Mankind's nitrogen oxides are about 22 million tons a year from the US, about equally from fixed and mobile (mainly automobiles) sources. Canada contributes some 1.4 million tons a year of nitrogen oxides, mostly from mobile sources. Acid rain also has a damaging effect on agriculture, especially soybeans. It is recommended that people be willing to pay the cost of reducing the total atmospheric emission of sulfur and nitrogen oxides.

• OSTI ID: 5203813
• Journal Information: Environ. Midwest; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Midwest; (United States); ISSN EMIDD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
AGRICULTURE
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
CONTROL
COST
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOOD
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GREAT LAKES
INDUSTRY
LAKES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION SOURCES
RAIN
RECOMMENDATIONS
SOYBEANS
STREAMS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SURFACE WATERS
TOXICITY
VEGETABLES