Botanical aspects of acidic precipitation

Journal Article · · Bot. Rev.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862631· OSTI ID:6134059

Evans, L S

Acidic precipitation is perceived as a significant air pollution problem derived chiefly from combustion of fossil fuels, smelting of sulfide metals, and other industrial processes. Precipitation data from the northeastern United States show a mean pH of between 4.0 and 4.2 with a range of from 3.0 to 6.0 among individual events. Although visible injury to plant foliage has been documented in a variety of studies only one case of visible foliar injury from the acidity in ambient rainfalls has been documented. Acidic precipitation can contribute nutrients to vegetation and could also influence nutrient leaching rates from vegetation. Although these processes occur, there are no data that show changes in nutrient levels in foliage that relate to crop or natural ecosystem productivity. Although no consistent patterns are presently known, acidic precipitation may affect host-plant interactions. Few experiments with field-grown crops or vegetation under natural conditions have been performed. Studies with field-grown crops are evaluated. Acidification of fresh waters of the northeastern US is caused by acid deposition. Such regions in which this acidification occurs have in common, volume weighted mean H/sup +/ concentrations of 25 ..mu..eq liter/sup -1/ or higher and slow weathering of granitic or Precambrian bedrock with thin soils deficient in minerals that provide buffering capacity. As freshwater acidification occurs, many plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates are progressively eliminated. Generally, fisheries are severely impacted when lake pH falls below 5.0. Fish are almost always eliminated when the lake pH is below 4.8. 187 references.

• Research Organization: Manhattan Coll., Bronx, NY
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6134059
• Journal Information: Bot. Rev.; (United States), Journal Name: Bot. Rev.; (United States) Vol. 50:4; ISSN BOREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CONTAMINATION
CROPS
DISSOLUTION
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FISHES
FOLIAR UPTAKE
FRESH WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INJURIES
LEACHING
NUTRIENTS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PLANTS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
PRODUCTIVITY
RAIN
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WEATHERING