Ecological aspects of air pollution emissions from an iron ore sintering plant in Ontario

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5417824

Temple, P J; Balsillie, D; McGovern, P C

Sulfur dioxide emissions from an iron ore sintering plant have severely damaged vegetation up to 16 km northeast of the source. Concentric zones of increasing vegetation loss have formed around the point of maximum ground level concentration of the gas. Species diversity, sulfur and heavy metal concentrations in vegetation and soil amount to SO/sub 2/ injury were measured along a transect through the injury zones. Surrounding a central denuded area were zones dominated respectively by tussock-forming hair grass (Deschampsia flexuosa); low-growing shrubs and trailers (Sambucus pubens, Polygonum cilinode); higher-growing shrubs and suckering Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera) stunted forest tree species (Populus, Betula, Picea glauca, Abies Balsamea), and finally, normal boreal forest flora. Although SO/sub 2/ injury is continuing in this area, these zones now appear to be maintained primarily by severe erosion and destruction of suitable habitats for regeneration of forest species.

• Research Organization: Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Toronto
• OSTI ID: 5417824
• Journal Information: Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am.; (United States) Vol. 56:2; ISSN BECLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560303 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
BIRCHES
CANADA
CHALCOGENIDES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GRASS
INJURIES
IRON ORES
MASS TRANSFER
NORTH AMERICA
ONTARIO
ORES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
POPLARS
SMELTERS
SOILS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
SPRUCES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TOXICITY
TREES