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Chemical Interactions of Acidic Precipitation and Terrestrial Vegetation

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Phytochemical Effects of Environmental Compounds

Part of the book series: Recent Advances in Phytochemistry ((RAPT,volume 21))

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Abstract

Acidic precipitation — wet or frozen precipitation with a H+ concentration greater than 2.5 ueq liter-1 (equivalent to a pH of about 5.6) — is a significant air pollution problem in North America and Europe. The northeastern portion of the United States is at the center of the high acidic rainfall area in North America.1 The high H+ concentration of precipitation (rain, snow, fog, sleet, and mist) in the northeastern United States is explained by the presence of strong acids. Sulfuric acid contributes a portion of the acidity,2–4 and nitrate and chloride are significant anion components of the total acidity in precipitation.5,6 A significant amount of sulfur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere is converted into sulfuric acid and various aerosols of ammonium sulfate. Particulate sulfur compounds and sulfur oxides may be incorporated into precipitation with conversion to H2SO4.2 About 90% of the sulfur in the atmosphere of the northeastern United States is contributed by antrhopogenic sources.7 An estimate for nitrogen inputs into the atmosphere of the Adirondack Mountain Region indicates that 34% of the anions in rain could be attributed to nitrates.8 Acidic precipitation is only a portion of the total acidity brought to the earth’s surface from the atmosphere. Dry fall plus acidic precipitation is termed acidic deposition.

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  1. Laboratory of Plant Morphogenesis, Manhattan College, The Bronx, New York, 10471, USA

    Lance S. Evans

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  1. Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland, USA

    James A. Saunders  & Lynn Kosak-Channing  & 

  2. University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA

    Eric E. Conn

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© 1987 Plenum Press, New York

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Evans, L.S. (1987). Chemical Interactions of Acidic Precipitation and Terrestrial Vegetation. In: Saunders, J.A., Kosak-Channing, L., Conn, E.E. (eds) Phytochemical Effects of Environmental Compounds. Recent Advances in Phytochemistry, vol 21. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1931-3_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1931-3_8

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