Destruction rains from power plants

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · People and Energy; (United States)

OSTI ID:5714498

Acid rain more acidic than lemon juice periodically falls in the U.S. east of the Mississippi River. Acid rain is the final product in a chain of reactions that begins when SO/sub 2/ is emitted from power plants. SO/sub 2/ reacts with atmospheric constituents to form sulfur trioxide, sulfate, and sulfuric acid. It is sulfate which is most harmful to human health. Nitric oxides also react in the atmosphere to form nitric acid. Coal combustion produces more than half the man-made air-borne sulfur, and half the nitrate (NOx). Auto engines produce nearly half the NOx, while catalytic convertors are a direct source of sulfuric acid. Fertilizer may also produce nitrate. As many as 21,000 people die annually from sulfur-related causes east of the Mississippi, according to a draft report by the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Acid rain has wreaked havoc in some northeastern waterways. Since 1940, it has eliminated fish from nearly half the Adirondack lakes. Acid rain also affects forest ecosystems by leaching nutrients from foliage and soil, and by killing important soil microorganisms. Antiquated buildings and sculpture are eroding. Two major obstacles for controlling acid rain and sulfates abound - bureaucratic and the National Energy Plan's commitment to coal. (MCW)

• OSTI ID: 5714498
• Journal Information: People and Energy; (United States), Journal Name: People and Energy; (United States) Vol. 3:5; ISSN PEEND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200200 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste Management
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
296001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power Generation-- (-1989)
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
AUTOMOBILES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CATALYTIC CONVERTERS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
DEATH
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUELS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LEGISLATION
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NITRIC ACID
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
POWER PLANTS
RAIN
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SULFURIC ACID
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
VEHICLES