Chemical Composition of Acid Fog

The in-vitro response of pollen germination and tube length to different types of acidity

Pollen germination and tube growth are among the most sensitive responses to atmospheric pollution. Both these are inhibited by the acidity of the growth medium. Pollen grains from two species (Pinus cembra L. and Sambucus nigra L.) were germinated in media over a range of pHs (5.0, 4.5, 4.0, 3.5, 3.0 and 2.5) and six types of acidity (H(2)SO(4), HNO(3), H(2)SO(4): HNO(3) in 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 and 5:1 ratio). Pollen of the Gymnosperm is shown to be more resistant to acidity in the medium. Sulphuric acid alone and the ratio 2:1 with nitric acid are demonstrated to be the more harmful for P. cembra and S. nigra, respectively. The latter species was sensitive to all mixtures, particularly in respect to germination percentage.

Urban Air Pollution: State of the Science

Urban air pollution is comprised of a highly complex mixture of gaseous and particulate components. Much progress has been made in our understanding of the detailed chemistry and physics of air pollution, but important areas of uncertainty still remain.

Photochemical oxidant pollution and vegetation: effects of mixtures of gases, fog and particles

Photochemical 'smog' contains mixtures of gases (e.g. ozone, nitrogen dioxide), and dry particles (e.g. nitrates). Intermittent fog in the same geographical area can be acidic with high concentrations of nitric acid. Results from recent field studies in the Los Angeles Basin have emphasized the relative toxicity of these components of photochemical air pollution. Studies have focused on gaseous+fog or gaseous+dry particulate effects on conifers, gaseous+fog effects on crops, and the effects of trace pollutants produced during generation of ozone on crops. Data from these studies indicate that direct alterations in growth and physiological responses were observed only with gaseous pollutants (primarily ozone), or repeated applications of highly acidic fogs (pH < 2.7). Direct particle dry deposition effects are unclear. Few interactions have been found between gaseous pollutants and acidic fog. Charcoal-filtered open-top chambers are highly effective in removing pollutants in the following order: fog (100%) > peroxyacetyl nitrate > ozone > nitrogen dioxide > sulfur dioxide > nitrate ion > ammonium ion > sulfate ion. However, nitric oxide concentrations are higher in charcoal-filtered chambers than in ambient air. The studies point out the importance of considering other components of photochemical pollution in addition to ozone, especially when investigating subtle, long-term effects on vegetation.

Effects of pollutant atmospheres on surface receptors of pulmonary macrophages

The effects of two multicomponent pollutant atmospheres on the surface receptors (FcR) and phagocytic activity of rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages have been studied. FcR are crucial for the macrophages to become cytotoxic against target cells. The atmospheres were composed of pollutants that are prevalent in the South Coast Air Basin of southern California. Rats were exposed nose-only to a 7-component oxidant-and sulfate-containing atmosphere for 4 h/d for either 7 or 21 consecutive days. In another experiment rats were exposed 5 h/d for 5 consecutive days to another pollutant combination--acid droplets plus carbon-containing dilute diesel engine exhaust. In both experiments matched rats were exposed nose-only to purified air to be used as controls. Each of the atmospheres studied significantly reduced FcR activity for at least 3 d following the exposure, with the group of rats exposed to the 7-component atmosphere for 21 d exhibiting the most pronounced effect. Macrophages from rats exposed to the diesel exhaust plus acid atmosphere and the 7-component atmosphere for 7 d had significantly reduced phagocytic activity for at least 3 d postexposure, while the macrophages from rats exposed to the latter atmosphere for 21 d had phagocytic activity near control values. The decrease in phagocytosis and inhibition of FcR of macrophages suggests an impairment of macrophage function that probably renders the host vulnerable to bacterial and/or viral infections.

Synergistic interaction between nitrogen dioxide and respirable aerosols of sulfuric acid or sodium chloride on rat lungs

We examined interactions in rats between NO2 gas and respirable aerosols of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) or sodium chloride (NaCl). Rats were exposed for 1, 3, or 7 days to 5 ppm of NO2 gas, alone or in combination with 1 mg/m3 of H2SO4 or NaCl aerosols. The apparent rate of collagen synthesis by lung minces was measured after 7 days of exposure, and the protein content of whole lung lavage fluid was measured after 1 or 3 days of exposure. Responses from rats exposed to 5 ppm of NO2 alone were significantly different from controls by these assays. A synergistic interaction was demonstrated between 5 ppm of NO2 and 1 mg/m3 of either H2SO4 or NaCl aerosol as evaluated by measurement of the rate of lung collagen synthesis. A synergistic interaction was also demonstrated by the criterion of increased protein content of lung lavage fluid in rats exposed to 5 ppm of NO2 and 1 mg/m3 of H2SO4 aerosol after 1 day of exposure and between 5 ppm of NO2 and 1 mg/m3 of NaCl aerosol after 3 days of exposure. These observations with 5 ppm of NO2 alone and in combination with 1 mg/m3 of NaCl aerosol support the hypothesis that formation of nitrosyl chloride may contribute to a synergistic interaction between NO2 gas and NaCl aerosol. These results suggest that, in general, combinations of oxidant gases with respirable acidic aerosols or with acidogenic gases will demonstrate interactive effects on rat lungs. Such a hypothesis is testable and makes specific predictions about effects of inhalation of pollutant mixtures.

The fate of some components of acidic deposition in ombrotrophic mires

The ability of ombrotrophic Sphagnum species to immobilise inorganic nitrogen deposited from the atmosphere was investigated in a series of simple lysimeter experiments. In an unpolluted mire, Sphagnum fuscum mats retained all the nitrogen deposited to them in natural precipitation events. Sphagnum capillifolium mats, transplanted from an unpolluted site to the polluted southern Pennines in England, also initially retained a large proportion of deposited nitrate and ammonium. However, a laboratory experiment demonstrated that high rates of nitrogen supply cause a loss of the ability of the moss to retain nitrate, which suggests that this may occur as a result of increased nitrogen deposition in polluted regions, resulting in increased nitrate availability in the peat. Investigation of the volume of precipitation and amounts of sulphate and chloride passing through the Sphagnum mats in the southern Pennines, as compared to that collected in adjacent bulk deposition gauges, showed that conventional deposition monitoring grossly underestimates rates of deposition to vegetation. Efficient trapping of occult and dry deposition by the moss led to much greater volumes of precipitation and amounts of sulphate and chloride being measured in throughflow than in bulk precipitation samples. Physiological response of S. fuscum to occult precipitation and heavy rainfall was investigated by measuring nitrate reductase activity induced in the moss by nitrate supplied in 'fine mist' and 'large droplet' applications of solutions to moss in the field. Greater response was shown to occult deposition, suggesting that this form of precipitation may be important in vegetation damage in polluted regions.

Carbon dioxide assimilation and growth of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) seedlings in response to ozone, precipitation chemistry, and soil type

The influence of ozone, mist chemistry, rain chemistry, and soil type on CO₂ assimilation and growth of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) seedlings was investigated over a 4-month period under controlled laboratory and glasshouse conditions. Growth was evaluated through interval estimates of aboveground relative growth rates (RGR) and the partitioning of biomass components at harvest to root, stem, and needle fractions. Precipitation chemistry treatments and O₃ exposure dynamics were based on reported characteristics of air chemistry and/or deposition in high-elevation forests of eastern North America. The two soils were collected from Camels Hump in the Green Mountains of Vermont and Acadia National Park on the Maine coast. Soil from Acadia had higher organic content, higher levels of extractable base cations, and lower levels of extractable aluminum and heavy metals. The only treatment variables that consistently influenced the growth of P. rubens were soil type and rain chemistry. In comparison with seedlings grown in soil from Acadia National Park, those grown in Camels Hump soil had significantly less needle (27%), stem (33%), and root (26%) biomass at harvest and statistically lower aboveground RGR within 2 months after initiation of the treatments. Seedlings grown in Camels Hump soil had significantly higher levels of aluminum (6.5X), copper (1.4X), and nickel (2.7X) in new needle tissue. The only influence of precipitation chemistry on the growth of P. rubens was a pattern of greater root and shoot biomass in seedlings experiencing the more acidic rain treatments. Interactive effects among the main treatment variables (e.g., acidic mist and O₃, acidic rain and soil type) on seedling growth were not notable. Rates of CO₂ assimilation and transpiration on a per gram needle dry weight basis [mol·g^-1·s^-1] were not influenced by any of the main treatment variables or their interaction. Because neither soil type nor precipitation chemistry influenced the efficiency of CO₂ assimilation per gram dry weight of needle tissue, the physiological mechanism underlying the growth response of P. rubens is attributed to a change in either whole-plant allocation of carbon resources or a direct toxic effect in the rhizosphere on root growth.

Synergistic interaction of ozone and respirable aerosols on rat lungs. I. Importance of aerosol acidity

A synergistic interaction, as defined by biochemical and morphological criteria, between ozone (or NO2) and respirable aerosols of ammonium sulfate or sulfuric acid has been described previously. Experiments in the present paper show that it is the acidity, not the sulfate content, of the aerosol that is responsible for such synergy; neutral aerosols of Na2SO4 or NaCl do not elicit synergistic effects when combined with ozone. Aerosol size (and, therefore, site of deposition in the lung) is also an important determinant of synergy with ozone; 0.5 micron mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) aerosols are effective whereas 0.02 micron MMAD aerosols are not. The synergistic interaction between ozone and acidic aerosols could be demonstrated by biochemical and toxicological criteria in addition to those we have previously reported, for example increases in whole lung protein content and free (acid-soluble) proline content of lungs. A synergistic interaction has been demonstrated at concentrations of 0.64 ppm (1.3 mg/m3) of ozone and 1 mg/m3 of acid aerosol in this study. We conclude that acidity of an aerosol determines whether or not it interacts synergistically with ozone, and that an aerosol size that impacts maximally upon the alveolar duct region of the lung is most active with ozone.

Potential human health effects of acid rain: report of a workshop

This report summarizes the potential impact of the acid precipitation phenomenon on human health. There are two major components to this phenomenon: the predepositional phase, during which there is direct human exposure to acidic substances from ambient air, and the post-depositional phase, in which the deposition of acid materials on water and soil results in the mobilization, transport, and even chemical transformation of toxic metals. Acidification increases bioconversion of mercury to methylmercury, which accumulates in fish, increasing the risk to toxicity in people who eat fish. Increase in water and soil content of lead and cadmium increases human exposure to these metals which become additive to other sources presently under regulatory control. The potential adverse health effects of increased human exposure to aluminum is not known at the present time.

Accumulation of nitrite and sulfite in yeast cells and synergistic depletion of the intracellular ATP content

When nitrite or sulfite are applied to yeast cells below pH 5.0, an enormous intracellular accumulation occurs. It is assumed that nitrite and sulfite penetrate the cell membrane in their undissociated forms as nitrous acid (pK = 3.3) or sulfurous acid (pK = 1.8), respectively. Due to the neutral intracellular pH they are trapped inside the cell in their anionic forms, which are impermeable to the cell membrane. It has previously been shown that sulfite causes a rapid depletion of the ATP content of yeast cells [Schimz, K.L. and Holzer, H. (1979) resp. Hinze et al. as above]. Similarly, millimolar concentrations of nitrite decrease the ATP level to less than 10% of the initial value. Nitrite and sulfite in combination deplete the ATP content of yeast cells much stronger than expected for the sum of the separate effects of these compounds ("synergistic effect").