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Author Question: Driscoll et al.(365) write that: Without strong acid anions, cation leaching in forest soils of the ... (Read 87 times)

Frost2351

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Driscoll et al.(365) write that: Without strong acid anions, cation leaching in forest soils of the Northeast is driven largely by naturally occurring organic acids derived from the decomposition of organic matter, which takes place primarily in
 
  the forest floor. ... Organic acids tend to mobilize Al through formation of organicAl complexes, most of which are deposited lower in the soil profile ... This process ... results in surface waters with low concentrations of Al. ... Acidic deposition to forest soils with base saturation values less than 20 increases Al mobilization and shifts chemical speciation of Al from organic to inorganic forms that are toxic to terrestrial and aquatic biota. Exactly what are they saying? Explain.

Question 2

Brown (155) reports that much toxic material is illegally dumped.
 
  Violators have loosened tank-truck valves and dumped contaminants along the road (a New York company spilled out polychlorinated biphenylsPCBsfrom a truck onto 270 mi of North Carolina highway). What are the attitudes of company officials that could tolerate this atrocity? Is indiscriminate dumping a national pastime? Where do you dispose of trash and garbage on long car trips?



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vickybb89

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Answer to Question 1

Aluminum is very important in the acidification process. Natural cycles tend to
remove aluminum from the water on the ground and transport the aluminum to clayey parts
of the soil. Little aluminum is present in surface waters. Acid rain reverses this natural cycle
and sends the resulting inorganic aluminum compounds into the biosphere, with devastating
results for wildlife and fish.

Answer to Question 2

This is another example of the tragedy of the commons. People who dump are
putting the disposal cost as a burden to others. Company officials may just be viewing
themselves as good managers for lowering the cost to the company for disposal. They
probably do not consider the cost they pose for people exposed to toxic chemicals,
mutagens or poisons. This can happen because they think of everywhere as one great dump,
free to use. In an area having excess landthat is, few peoplesuch an attitude is general.
When people are packed together, as they are in much of the world, the costs of others
actions become clearer.





 

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