Conifer damage in the vicinity of large stationary sources of phytotoxic gases: Mount Storm, West Virginia and other areas of the US

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Proc., Annu. Meet., Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5830419

Gordon, C C; Tourangeau, P C

Plantations of pine trees began to exhibit unusual damage. Three coal fired power plants located within a 50 mile radius of the plantations in the Mount Storm area were suspected as emitters of the causal agent. Two types of plant damage were apparent. The first was random dwarfing of needles and excessive or lack of development of dwarf shoot buds. The second was a premature drop of second and third year needles. It was hypothesized that the agent was abiotic. Acidic or alkaline precipitation or airborne particulates with acidic or alkaline properties when moistened were investigated. Simulated rain acidified by H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, HF or HNO/sub 3/ (pH range 1.5 to 5.5) was applied to pine seedlings. Results of the simulated rain application experiments with the acid solutions revealed histological symptoms and growth abnormalities identical to those seen in the field. The less acid solutions required a longer duration of exposure to produce symptoms. The histology of the damaged needles is extensively described but the general conclusion is that acidic precipitation runs down the needles and accumulates at the fascicle base. After penetrating the needles the acid causes lesions and induces growth abnormalities. Such damage can occur when rainwater with a pH below 5.0 to 4.5 collects between the fascicle sheath for an extended time. Increasing prevalence of acidic precipitation poses a threat to forests and horticultural species.

• OSTI ID: 5830419
• Report Number(s): CONF-750616-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc., Annu. Meet., Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COMBUSTION
CONIFERS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION III
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUELS
GROWTH
INHIBITION
INJURIES
LEAVES
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
PINES
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
RAIN
SIMULATION
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TREES
USA
WEST VIRGINIA