Acid precipitation: basic principles and ecological consequences

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981 · Pulp Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5946208

Cowling, E B; Davey, C B

The pulp and paper industry is involved with both the cause and effects of acid precipitation. Although significant quantities of desirable plant nutrients (nitrogen and sulfur) are added to the forest system by precipitation, the acidity and its detrimental effects may outweigh the benefits. Damage to the ecosystem is most likely to occur when major inputs of acid precipitation coincide with sensitive stages of a life form (such as fish eggs and larvae), and in poorly buffered, noncalcareous soils and rocks. Biological effects of acid precipitation have been demonstrated - necrotic lesions on foliage, nutrient loss from foliar organs, reduced resistance to pathogens, accelerated erosion of waxes on leaf surfaces, reduced rates of decomposition of leaf litter, inhibited formation of terminal buds, increased seedling mortality, and heavy metal accumulation. Soil microbiological processes such as nitrogen fixation, mineralization of forest litter, and nitrification of ammonium compounds are inhibited, the degree depending on degree of cultivation and soil buffering capacity. Water quality is impacted by contact with vegetation, soil, and bedrock. Acid precipitation mobilizes cations, especially the toxic Al, Mn, and Zn, and nutrients, K, Ca, and Mg. 25 references.

• Research Organization: North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh
• OSTI ID: 5946208
• Journal Information: Pulp Pap.; (United States), Vol. 55:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
POLLUTION SOURCES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
DAMAGE
DEATH
DECOMPOSITION
FOREST LITTER
FORESTS
INHIBITION
LEAVES
MINERAL CYCLING
MINERALIZATION
NECROSIS
NITRIFICATION
NITROGEN
NITROGEN FIXATION
NUTRIENTS
PAPER INDUSTRY
SEEDLINGS
SULFUR
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
INDUSTRY
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RAIN
WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560303 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)