Acid rain accelerates release of harmful elements into groundwater.
The study looked at how acid rain affects the release of elements from Delaware soils into groundwater. They tested different pH levels of simulated acid rain on soils with low clay and organic matter. They found that as the acidity of the rain increased, more elements like calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium were released from the soil. Heavy metals and silicon were released in small amounts. The release of aluminum was highest at pH 2.5, especially in soils with low buffering capacity. Overall, the study showed that acid rain can lead to increased leaching of elements from soils into groundwater.