Acid Rain

1. Introduction.- 1.1 Aim of the Report.- 1.2 Definition and Scope of the Phenomenon.- 1.3 Acknowledgements.- Findings and Conclusions.- 2. Apparent Effects.- 2.1 Scope.- 2.2 Trees.- 2.3. Crops.- 2.4 Other Terrestrial Flora and Fauna.- 2.5 Fish and Other Aquatic Flora and Fauna.- 2.6 Buildings.- 2.7 Health.- 3. Emissions and Physical Transport.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Forecast of Sulphurous Fuels Emissions.- 3.3 NOx Emissions.- 3.4 Implications for any Future Control Policy.- 3.5 Physical Transport.- 3.6 The Effect of Emission Height.- 3.7 National Sulphur Budgets.- 4. Chemical Transformation and Deposition.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Uncertainty concerning Mechanisms of Conversion.- 4.3 Chemical Tranformation of SO2 and NOx.- 4.4 Deposition of SOx and Nitrates.- 4.5 Ozone.- 5. Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms Causing Change and Possible Damage to Terrestrial Ecosystems.- 5.1 The Importance of Different Pollutants.- 5.2 Direct Damage Mechanisms.- 5.3 Form of Acid Pollutants contributing to Indirect Changes in Ecosystems.- 5.4 The Causes of Soil Acidification.- 5.5 The Mechanisms and Effects of Soil Acidification.- 5.6 Effects on Soil.- 5.7 Effects on Soil Biota.- 5.8 Heavy Metal Mobilisation.- 5.9 Extent of Soil Acidification caused by Acid Precipitation in Europe and its Significance for Plant and Tree Growth.- 6. Damage to Trees.- 6.1 Form and Incidence of Tree Damage in Europe.- 6.2 Forest Damage in Germany.- 6.3 Mechanisms of Forest Damage by Air Pollutants.- 6.4 Conclusions.- 7. Damage to Crops and Other Plants.- 7.1 Observed Damage.- 7.2 Direct Effects.- 7.3 Indirect Effects on Agriculture of Acid Precipitation.- 7.4 Conclusions.- 8. Effects on Aquatic Ecosystems and Fish.- 8.1 Acid Deposition.- 8.2 Evidence of Water Acidification.- 8.3 Acid Inputs to Surface and Ground Water.- 8.4 The Process of Water Acidification.- 8.5 The Decline in Fish Populations.- 8.6 Causes of Fish Damage.- 8.7 Damage to Other Aquatic Biota.- 8.8 The Relationship of Fish Status to Acid Input by Precipitation.- 9. The Mechanism of Damage to Buildings.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Agents of Corrosion.- 9.3 The Mechanism of Corrosion.- 9.4 Evidence of Corrosion.- 10. The Impact on Health.- 10.1 The Potential Threat.- 10.2 Metal Concentrations in Drinking Water.- 10.3 Evidence of Health Effects.- 11. Costs and Benefits of Acid Emission Control Strategies.- 11.1 The Application of Cost/Benefit Analysis.- 11.2 Damage Costs and Potential Benefits of Control.- 11.3 Emission Control Costs.- 11.4 Lime Addition to Lakes.- 11.5 Comparison of Costs of Control and Economic Benefits of Control Strategies.- 11.6 Future Research and Control Action.- References.