Puget Sound acidity levels drop after ASARCO shutdown

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5785589

The levels of acidity in Puget Sound region rainfall have decreased significantly since the shutdown of the ASARCO copper smelter in Tacoma, Washington, according to a study funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Results indicate that sulfate and hydrogen ion concentrations obtained from samples taken before the closure were significantly different than those collected after the shutdown. Rainwater samples collected downwind during smelter operation were also significantly different from those collected upwind. Sulfur dioxide is considered to be one of the principal contributors to acid rain. The smelter was a major source of sulfur dioxide emissions in the Puget Sound region before it shut down in March 1985.

• OSTI ID: 5785589
• Journal Information: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 37:7; ISSN JPCAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
METALS
MONITORING
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC OCEAN
POLLUTION
PUGET SOUND
RAIN
SEAS
SMELTERS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS