Evaluation of the effects of air pollution on vegetation in the Mt. Storm, West Virginia-Oakland, Maryland area

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

OSTI ID:5904582

Wood, F A; Pennypacker, S P

The occurrence of random dwarfing of pine needles in the Mt. Storm area was investigated as to causal agent. Acid solutions were applied to pine seedlings. Candles of Scotch pine were treated with fly ash, sulfuric acid at pH 3.0 spray and sulfuric acid at pH 3.0 and 4.0 spray and eye dropper application. H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and HF were also applied to the pine candles by hypodermic syringe. Two milliliters of 10/sup -2/, 10/sup -4/, 10/sup -5/ and 10/sup -6/ molar acids were applied for 20 successive days. The fly ash of H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ (pH 3.0 and 4.0) did not induce any delerious effects on the candles. The H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and HF treatments induced necrotic candles or twigs at 10/sup -2/M. At 10/sup -3/M, H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ induced necrosis and chlorosis of needles. HF at 10/sup -3/M induced needle tip necrosis and some short needle development. It was concluded that acid rain was not responsible for the symptoms observed in the field. The pH 1.7 to 2.7 H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ caused necrosis or chlorosis and not the dwarfing of needles. H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ at pH 3.7 and higher did not produce symptoms. The acidity required to produce symptoms was greater than the acidity of ambient rain. Symptoms at the needle bases accompanying the short needles induced by HF were not like those occurring in the field. Atmospheric levels of fluorine and fluorine content of foliage were within background levels.

• OSTI ID: 5904582
• Report Number(s): CONF-750616-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc., Annu. Meet., Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 75-21.2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
AEROSOL WASTES
ASHES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CONIFERS
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION III
FLUORINE
FLY ASH
HALOGENS
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INJURIES
INORGANIC ACIDS
LEAVES
MARYLAND
MEETINGS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
PINES
PLANTS
RAIN
RESIDUES
SIMULATION
SULFURIC ACID
TREES
UPTAKE
USA
WASTES
WEST VIRGINIA