Relative contributions of sulfuric and nitric acids in acid rain to the acidification of the ecosystem: implications for control strategies

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00022470.1981.10465345· OSTI ID:7019351

McLean, R A.N.

Much of northeastern North America has been receiving precipitation of pH 4.6 or less, i.e. more than ten times more acid than normal rain (pH = 5.6) for at least the past 20 to 30 years. Originally, this acidity was almost totally due to sulfuric acid. These inputs of sulfuric acid in the very acid sensitive Adirondacks may have removed much of the neutralizing and nitrate-utilizing ability of the soils and water. Thus, this area may now be more sensitive to atmospheric inputs of nitric acid. Further work is required on the impact of acid nitrate deposition on the ecosystem but with equal certainty it can be stated that sulfur deposition remains the princpial long term threat to acid sensitive ecosystems. It can be concluded that: much of the nitric acid in acid rain is decomposed in the soils and waterway, and is not a significant contributor to long-term acidification of soils and waters; although in the long term, nitric acid in atmospheric deposition is not likely to be contributing to the overall acidification of the environment, during the spring thaw, in areas which have been heavily impacted by acid rain for a number of years, nitric acid which has concentrated in the snow pack over the winter may cause ecological damage, especially to fish populations; though there is little doubt that tighter control strategies are necessary to diminish the effects of acid rain on remote ecosystems the existing control strategies, which have put more emphasis on the control of emissions of sulfur oxides than nitrogen oxides, have a reasonable scientific basis given our present limited knowledge of their effects on the ecosystem.

• Research Organization: Domtar Research Centre, Senneville, Quebec
• OSTI ID: 7019351
• Journal Information: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 31:11; ISSN JPCAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
NITRIC ACID
POLLUTION CONTROL
PRECIPITATION SCAVENGING
RAIN
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SNOW
SULFURIC ACID
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
VARIATIONS
WASHOUT