Economic impact of air pollutants on plants in the United States

Book · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1971

OSTI ID:5446731

Benedict, H M; Miller, C J; Olson, R E

An attempt is made to describe studies conducted from September 1, 1970, to August 31, 1971 and to present revised estimates of dollar losses due to oxidants, sulfur dioxide, and fluorides in the US. Counties were selected where the major air pollutants were likely to reach plant-damaging concentrations. The relative potential severity of the pollution in each country was then estimated. The dollar value of grass hay produced and of pastures (as hay equivalent) in the potentially polluted counties was calculated. With these results, the crop value estimates were completed for the counties where damage to vegetation seemed likely to occur as a result of air pollutants. Estimates of the potential annual value of forests and the annual maintenance costs of ornamental plantings were completed. Tables were prepared showing the relative sensitivity of different plant species to oxidants, sulfur dioxide and fluorides. Loss factors were then compiled for 62 species for oxidant exposures, 63 for SO/sub 2/ exposures, and 36 for fluoride exposures. These factors were then applied to the value of the corps, forests and ornamentals grown in the polluted countries, and the dollar loss value for each crop in each country was recorded. These values were added to obtain the state, regional, and national values. 37 references, 2 figures, 18 tables.

• OSTI ID: 5446731
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
530100* -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Social & Economic Studies-- (-1989)
560303 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
CHALCOGENIDES
CROPS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FORESTS
GRASS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
LOSSES
ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDANTS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SENSITIVITY
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TABLES
TOXICITY