Subscribe Now

Groundwater, used by many Americans for household use and drinking water, is replenished mostly by rainwater and snowmelt.  But what if rainwater is acidic?  Most acidic rainwater is neutralized or “buffered” by rocks and soil as it soaks into the ground, but the process is not always completely successful.  Rocks with high amounts of calcium, [...]

“Acid rain” forms when nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides mix with moisture in the air and fall to the ground with rain, snow, mist, or fog.  Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides are released into the air by cars, trucks, lawnmowers, factories, power plants, and other sources, and can be carried considerable distances by prevailing winds.  As a [...]

Shorter days and cold nights mean that we are spending more time inside and using more energy for heat and other household needs.  The burning of fossil fuels (coal, for example) to provide energy to homes and businesses creates air pollutants that can contribute to acid rain and snow, damage plant life, and trigger health [...]

Particle air pollution, which results from motor vehicle exhaust, power plants, wood burning, and other sources, can aggravate some health problems, including heart or lung disease.  Unlike ozone pollution, which mainly occurs in the summer, particle pollution can occur at any time of the year, and levels of particle pollution can vary throughout the day.  [...]

Did you know that the North Cascades are located in the path of southwesterly winds that blow across many industrial and urban areas in eastern Washington?  Two common air pollutants are nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides emitted from automobiles, power plants, and other sources. These are the main ingredients in acid rain and snow, and [...]

Acid rain results when sulfur and nitrogen, elements released by cars, trucks, lawnmowers, factories, power plants, and other sources, are dissolved in water droplets and fall to the ground.  Rain water tends to be most acidic in the northeastern U.S., and can have negative effects on our natural and built environments.  For example, the US [...]

When you start the car after it has been sitting for more than an hour, it produces five times more pollutants than it does when the engine is warm!  Vehicles account for about 25 percent of the nation’s air pollution, which can damage sensitive plant life, trigger asthma and other health problems, and contribute to [...]