Question

Environmental Chemistry Question:

What are the main impacts of acid percipitation on the environment?

Answer 1

Impacts of acid precipitation on the environment:

Acid deposition influences the environment in several different ways. In aquatic systems, acid deposition can effect these ecosystems by lowering their pH. However, not all aquatic systems are effected equally.

Streams, ponds, or lakes that exist on bedrock or sediments rich in calcium and/or magnesium are naturally buffered from the effects of acid deposition.

Aquatic systems on neutral or acidic bedrock are normally very sensitive to acid deposition because they lack basic compounds that buffer acidification.

Increasing acidity results in the leaching of several important plant nutrients, including calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Reductions in the availability of these nutrients cause a decline in plant growth rates.

The heavy metal aluminum becomes more mobile in acidified soils. Aluminum can damage roots and interfere with plant uptake of other nutrients such as magnesium and potassium.

Reductions in soil pH can cause germination of seeds and the growth of young seedlings to be inhibited.

Acid precipitation can cause direct damage to the foliage on plants especially when the precipitation is in the form of fog or cloud water which is up to ten times more acidic than rainfall.

Dry deposition of SO2 and NOx has been found to affect the ability of leaves to retain water when they are under water stress.
Acidic deposition can leach nutrients from the plant tissues weakening their structure.