[en] Effects of acid rain and potassium fertiliser on root uptake of ¹³⁴Cs and ⁶⁰Co are presented in this paper. Paragrass (Purpurascens sp.) was grown in clay soil homogeneously contaminated with the radionuclides, and kept in a greenhouse for 45 days. Plants in both fertilised and non-fertilised treatments were irrigated daily with a fixed pH solutions of 4, 5 or 6. Every 15 days plant and soil samples were harvested, and analysed to determine the Soil-to-Plant Transfer Factors (TF) of the shoots (TF_SP), rhyzomes (TF_SRh) and roots (TF_SR). The results show that acid rain had an influence on the TF_SP and TF_SRh values of young plants. Application of K-fertiliser decreased the TF_SP of ¹³⁴Cs. The effect increased with ontogeny. TF values of ¹³⁴Cs and ⁶⁰Co were in the order of: TF_SR > TF_SRh > TF_SR. When compared the two radionuclides in each part, it was found that, for TF_SR and TF_SRh : ⁶⁰Co > ¹³⁴Cs, for TF_SP : ¹³⁴Cs > ⁶⁰Co

[en] Highlights: • Wear rate of nitrided HEAs was lower than that of as-cast HEAs in the same condition. • The wear mechanism of as-cast alloys in air was abrasive wear of oxide particles. • The wear mechanism of the nitrided HEAs in air was adhesive wear and abrasive wear. • The wear mechanism of HEAs in acid rain was abrasive, oxidative and corrosive wear. • The lubrication action of deionized water and acid rain led to the lower wear rate.

[en] The effect of air pollution is felt world wide. Acid rain brings havoc to all forms of life on this planet. One of the many consequences of acid rain is the release of luminum (III) from the soil. Tea is the plant which selectively accumulates soluble aluminium from the soil. The short article is to alert heavy tea drinkers as aluminium is a neuro-toxic metal. (author)

[en] This report presents a scientific assessment of the RAIN project. It describes the main hypotheses tested and the applied methods. The major results of the research are highlighted and discussed, and they are placed in the perspective of national and international acid rain research. An important part of the RAIN project has been to provide information to the public about the acid rain problem, and in this way it has performed an important background role in influencing political decisions and legislation. The RAIN project is regarded as a cost effective research effort, and the novel approach and capital investment will enable further manipulation studies at these sites in the future. It is recommended that the project is continued in the immediate future, with some modification to answer specific questions resulting from the collected data. 24 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab

[en] Although acid rain and its harmful environmental consequences have been recognised and documented in the industrialised countries of Europe and North America there have been few studies of this phenomenon in other regions of the globe. Recent measurements in some tropical countries have demonstrated the occurrence of acid rain. It was therefore considered necessary to set up a routine rainwater acidity monitoring programme in Brunei Darussalam in order to provide a database which would be of use in assessing any potential environmental impacts in the country. This paper describes the rainwater acidity monitoring programme that was initiated in 1995 by the Brunei Meteorological Service as part of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW). Wet-only deposition samples were collected using an automatic precipitation collector. Rainwater pH was determined in an on-site laboratory immediately upon sample collection. The pH of 185 samples collected so far varied between 4.27 and 6.27. 91% of the samples had pH below 5.6 indicating the occurrence of acid rain in Brunei Darussalam

[en] In most urban areas in Europe and Northern American serious corrosion impacts on buildings and cultural monuments have been caused by emissions of pollutants. The rapidly increasing pollution levels in many of the developing countries also exert a serious threat to materials. Beside the very important role of SO₂ also the direct or synergistic effect of NO₂ and O₃, the particulates and rain acidity may contribute in an important way to materials degradation. Results from extensive international field exposure programmes i. e. within the UN/ECE have enabled development of dose-response relations which describe the effect of dry and wet deposition of pollutants on corrosion of different material groups. In most of the industrialized countries decreasing trends of sulphur and nitrogen pollutants and of acidity of precipitation have resulted in decreased corrosion rates. The concept of acceptable levels of pollutants is a useful tool in planning of abatement strategies and for defining of conditions for a suitable development in the field of corrosion of construction in the atmosphere. (Author) 12 refs

[en] Pakistan is an agricultural developing country. About 68% of the country's population resides in rural areas and is mostly linked with agriculture. Agricultural sector contributes more than 25% to GDP, employees about 45% of the labour force and contributes significantly to export earnings of the country. Energy sector is the major source (80%) of emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). Agriculture and livestock sectors are also responsible for GHGs emissions. The emissions of GHGs results in acid rain and earth's temperature rise (global warming). The destabilization of the global climate destroys natural ecosystem and increases natural disasters, such as violent storms, floods, droughts etc. The acid rain and these natural disasters affect the agricultural productivity. The study indicates that the agricultural productivity per capita in Pakistan decreased continuously during the last two decades. The paper concludes that due to emissions of GHGs, the agricultural productivity is significantly affected in the country. The government should take concrete measures to minimize the emissions of GHGs for increasing the agricultural productivity and reducing other harmful impacts in the country. This paper presents the review and analysis of the effects of GHGs emissions on the agricultural productivity in Pakistan. (author)

[en] Short communication

[en] Degradation mechanisms of unglazed solar absorber surfaces based on aluminium substrate were studied. Rough graphite-aluminium surfaces were total-immersion subjected to aerated and de-aerated simulated neutral and acid rain. Test conditions were based on calculated absorber stagnation temperature and global rain acidity measurements. Changes in optical properties, elemental composition and sample mass were examined by spectrometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and thermogravimetry, respectively. The absorbers exhibited almost no degradation at pH value of 3.5. At pH 5.5 alumina on the surface hydrated significantly degrading the optical properties of the surfaces severely in most cases. Therefore these absorber surfaces can not be recommended to be used in non-glazed applications if they are exposed to rain with pH exceeding ∼ 3.5-4.5. The total-immersion test needs to be developed further as the test results exhibited poor temperature and time dependency thus preventing accurate service lifetime estimates. Still, these tests were useful in determining favourable and non-favourable operating conditions for the absorber surfaces based on aluminium substrate. (author)

[en] In large urban centers, the toxicity of metal mixtures may be enhanced by physicochemical factors and environmental variables, including pH. Rio Grande, a municipality located in the extreme south of Brazil, has soils with high levels of contamination due to urban and industrial activities and a high prevalence of acid rain events. Previous studies have shown that contact with elutriate of these soils can cause physiological and reproductive changes. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate, through animal experimentation, the effects of a metal-contaminated soil, acidified by hydrofluoric acid at two different pH values (5.2 and 3.6), on the health of offspring of rats exposed during gestation and lactation. Female Wistar rats were gavaged daily for 42 days (gestation and breastfeeding) with soil elutriate contaminated with metals, using solvent with different pH values (6.0, 5.2, and 3.6). The following parameters were evaluated in their offspring: body and organ weight, length, appearance of developmental characteristics, and swimming. Experimental groups in which the progenitors were exposed to the solution at pH 3.6 exhibited a delayed increase in weight as well as motor deficit, with a decreased weight (onset) and length (beginning and end), while exposure in association with soil was an aggravating factor for the damages to the body. Exposure to the solution at pH 5.2 decreased the initial weight of the animals, impaired some parameters of weight development, and caused motor deficit on the 14th day. These novel findings reveal that the exposure of progenitors to environmental stressors can compromise the health of the offspring. Special attention should be given to populations living in areas with high prevalence of acid rain.