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Acid Air Deposition's Role in Nonpoint Source Pollution
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Acid air deposition results from either:
- dry deposition (gases and dry particles) or
- acid precipitation (acid rain) from sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
Atmospheric SO2 and NOx come from burning fossil fuels, mainly coal and petroleum, at both stationary and mobile sources. These pollutants mix with water vapor, forming sulfuric and nitric acids that affect ecosystems, visibility, materials and human health. Excessive amounts of atmospheric nitrogen can adversely affect aquatic biology by producing algal blooms that block the sunlight needed by submerged aquatic vegetation. Decomposing algae deplete oxygen needed by invertebrates, an integral part of the food chain. In the Chesapeake Bay, depleted oxygen has adversely impacted the fish and shellfish industry. The Bay also is the prime breeding area for much of the marine commercial and sport fishing in the mid-Atlantic region. Research indicates that there might be limited recovery in some sensitive systems because NOx reductions under the current acid rain program may not be sufficient in some areas to improve the status of acidified surface waters.
EPA's Clean Air Mapping and Analysis Program (C-MAP) is a geographic information system assessment tool being used to better understand and characterize the benefits of national and regional pollutant emission reduction programs like the acid rain program.
