Acid rain and acidification of the environment

Acid rain as a result of the burning of fossil fuels is an enormous environmental problem in sensitive areas. The situation has improved somewhat during recent years as a result of desulphuration of oil and the installation of scrubbers, etc. for removal of SO2, but the handling of NO (to a great extent produced from different transports) is more difficult. Furthermore, NO is produced through incorporation of atmospheric nitrogen during the combustion process. 

Another problem with lowered pH in the environment is the mobilization and increased bioavailability of many metals. This will give rise to increased exposure and additional problems from Hg, Cd and Pb, among others (McDonald et al., 1989). In Scandinavia, significant efforts are made to add chalk to the environment. For example, in Sweden around 200000 tons/year are added (Swedish Environmental Protection Board, 2004), thus giving nature a boost to prevent further acidification. 

Atchisson, G.J., Sandheinrich, M.B. and Bryan, M.D. (1996) Effects of environmental stressors on interspecific interactions of aquatic animals. In Ecotoxicology a Hierarchical Approach, Newman, M.C. and Jagoe, C.H. (eds), pp. 319-337. Lewis, Chelsea, MI. 

Jourdain, M.J. and Jauzein, M. (1999) Toxicity and genotoxicity of industrial soils polluted by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Organic Geochemistry, 8B, 947-952. 

Bjorklund, H., Bondestam, J. and Bylund, G. (1990) Residues of oxytetracycline in wild fish and sediments from fish farms. Aquaculture 86, 359-367. 

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