Acid rain: biological effects and implication

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1974 · Environ. Aff.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5750259

Ferenbaugh, R W

There are people who argue that sulfur pollution in the atmosphere is perhaps not entirely a bad situation. Sulfur in the atmosphere is not a phenomenon that originated with man. There is a natural sulfur cycle, and considerable amounts of sulfur in the atmosphere result from sea spray, biogenic emissions, and volcanic fumes. Furthermore, sulfur is a necessary plant nutrient, and the supply of sulfur in the soil is replenished by deposition from the atmosphere. Since many soils in the world are sulfur deficient, some people feel that sulfur pollution could act to remedy this deficiency. It has even been noted that acid rain has, under some circumstances, been shown to increase plant productivity. Indeed, work at the University of Arizona has demonstrated that there are soils in which application of sulfur acid releases nutrients for utilization by plants. But even though sulfur in the atmosphere probably can act as a fertilizer when concentrations are low, higher concentrations which result in large-scale changes in ecosystems or serious alterations in the physiological processes of plants or animals must be avoided. A world already short of food and forest products can ill afford the rich (and sheer economic waste) of possible decreased productivity of these critical resources.

• OSTI ID: 5750259
• Journal Information: Environ. Aff.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Aff.; (United States) Vol. 4:4; ISSN EVAFB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
MICROORGANISMS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
RAIN
SOILS
SULFUR CYCLE
SYNTHESIS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS