Acid mine drainage is caused by oxidation of sulphide mine tailings.
Increasing levels of acid in the environment is causing the ingestion of body acid at higher levels than in the past.
Acid Rain Threatens Forests More than Previously Thought
"Our study not only challenges the dominant paradigm that rocks and soil mineral weathering provide a majority of some important plant nutrients like calcium and potassium," said Kennedy, "but it also proposes that our 'stable' old growth forests are the most at risk from acid rain, and that it is a bigger problem, potentially, than we ever imagined." -NASA Earth Observatory July 8, 2002
Coal-fired electric utilities and other sources that burn fossil fuels emit SO2 and NOx.
Acidic deposition or "acid rain" occurs when emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere react with water, oxygen, and oxidants to form acidic compounds. These compounds fall to the Earth in either dry form (gas and particles) or wet form (rain, snow, and fog). In the United States, about 63 percent of annual SO2 emissions and 22 percent of NOx emissions are produced by burning fossil fuels for electricity generation.
In the environment, acid deposition causes soils and water bodies to acidify (making the water unsuitable for some fish and other wildlife) and damages some trees, particularly at high elevations. It also speeds the decay of buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our national heritage. The nitrogen portion of acid deposition contributes to eutrophication in coastal ecosystems, the symptoms of which include algal blooms (some of which may be toxic), fish kills, and loss of plant and animal diversity. Finally, acidification of lakes and streams can increase the amount of methyl mercury available in aquatic systems. Most exposure to mercury comes from eating contaminated fish.
Acid mine drainage is caused by oxidation of sulphide mine tailings.
