Acid Deposition—Ch 17

What is Acid Deposition? Acid Deposition is the falling of acids & acid forming compounds from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface. SO2, NOx, and particulates can react in the atmosphere to produce acidic chemicals that can travel long distances before deposition. Tall smokestacks reduce local air pollution but can increase regional air pollution. 66% of all SO2 & 25% of all NOx comes from electric power generation that produces energy by burning fossil fuels. Two Forms Dry acidic gases & particles Wet acid rain, fog, sleet, cloud vapor & snow

What is Acid Deposition? Acid deposition is also commonly referred to acid rain (which is only one type). Natural precipitation is slightly acidic pH = ~5.0-5.6 Primarily because of acid deposition, typical rain in the US is now about 10 times more acidic pH = Under 5.6 & often as low as ~4.3

What is Acid Deposition? When gas pollutants (ex. SO2 & NO2) dissolve in rain water, various acids are formed. CO2 + H2O  H2CO3 (carbonic acid) SO2 + H2O  H2SO3 (sulphorous acid) NO2 + H2O  HNO2 (nitrous acid) + HNO3 (nitric acid)

Acid Rain Forms when SO2 & NOx react with H2O vapor in air Acidity measured using pH Numerical measure of the concentration of H+ ions in solution pH less than 7 = acidic pH greater than 7 = alkaline or basic Each number represents a tenfold (10x) change Harmful to plants/animals Damages structures made of limestone/marble Remember… Calcite reacts w/ acid bubbles

sulfuric acid nitric acid indirect health effects Acidic Precipitation Primary Pollutants SO2 NO2 Secondary Pollutants H2SO4 HNO2 sulfuric acid nitric acid acidic precipitation vegetation direct toxicity indirect health effects water Fossil fuels Power plants Industrial emissions Auto emissions soils leaching of minerals sediments leaching aluminum

What areas are affected by acid deposition? occurs on a regional rather than global basis. Serious regional problems in areas downwind from coal burning power plants, smelters, factories, & lg urban areas. growing problem in China, parts of the former Soviet Union, India, Nigeria, Brazil, Venezuela, & Columbia.

Health & Other Effects of Acid Deposition Health Effects: respiratory diseases bronchitis asthma Other damage: Statues & buildings Especially those made of limestone or marble metals car finishes

Environmental Effects of Acid Deposition Effects on plants: Acid rain does not usually kill trees directly. can damage tree foliage by making it weaker & more susceptible to being damaged even more by other stresses Ex. cold temperatures, diseases, insects, drought, & fungi The areas hardest hit by acid deposition are mountaintop forests, which tend to have thin soils without much buffering capacity. Nutrient leaching from soil limits the availability of nutrients to plants exposure to toxic substances slowly released from the soil

Environmental Effects of Acid Deposition Effects on animals: Generally, the young of most species are more sensitive to environmental conditions than adults. Release of metals into water Ex. Aluminum toxicity Al+3 released from soil builds up in water Contamination of fish in some lakes with highly toxic methyl mercury. Acid shock pH falls below species’ range of tolerance Lakes and streams become acidic when the water itself and its surrounding soil cannot buffer the acid rain enough to neutralize it. At pH 5, most fish eggs cannot hatch. At lower pH levels, some adult fish die. Some acid lakes have no fish. How seriously vegetation & aquatic life in lakes are affected depends mostly on whether its soils are acidic or basic (…their buffering capacity).

Acid Deposition & Aquatic Systems

Acid deposition has not been greatly reduced Solutions Acid deposition has not been greatly reduced New technologies such as scrubbers have helped SO2 emissions lower NOx emissions higher Effects are worse than predicted The Clean Air Act can’t restore ecosystems More must be done to control acid deposit. Acid Deposition Prevention Cleanup Reduce air pollution by improving energy efficiency Add lime to neutralize acidified lakes Reduce coal use Add phosphate fertilizer to neutralize acidified lakes Increase natural gas use Increase use of renewable energy resources Burn low-sulfur coal Remove SO2 particulates & NOx from smokestack gases Figure 19.10 Solutions: methods for reducing acid deposition and its damage. QUESTION: Which two of these solutions do you think are the most important? Remove NOx from motor vehicular exhaust Tax emissions of SO2