Polluted Rain

This is the twelfth in a series of conferences on environmental toxicity sponsored by the Department of Radiation Biology and Bio­ physics. The topics selected are intended to be of timely interest with a focus somewhat different from those with with similar titles. I would like to share with you some of the thought which went into the development of this year's program. Everyone here is aware of the great amount of publicity being given to some phase of this year's topic of "Polluted Rain", but I wonder how many of the younger generation realize how the entire world got into this kind of predicament. I can remember as a young­ ster that precipitation from the sky in the form of rain or snow was considered one of the ultimates in purity. That was in the era when a small number of automobiles were in use and the airplane was more of a curiosity in the developmental stage than anything of commer­ cial significance. Many homes used iceboxes for refrigeration, and summer cooling was accomplished by electric fans by the more afflu­ ent families.

Welcoming Remarks.- Welcome from the Department of Radiation Biology and Biophysics.- Session I: The Chemistry of Polluted Rain.- The Acidic Precipitation Phenomenon: A Study of This Phenomenon and the Relationship between the Acid Content of Precipitation and the Emission of Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides in The Netherlands.- Mass Transfer of Gases to Growing Water Droplets.- Precipitation Chemistry Trends in the Northeastern United States.- Modeling the Chemical Composition of Acid Rain in Southern California.- Deterioration of Architectural Structures and Monuments.- Session II: The Mercury Problem.- Mercury Transport in the Environment—Analytical and Sampling Problems.- Atmospheric and Watershed Inputs of Mercury to Cranberry Lake, St. Lawrence County, New York.- The Effects of Acidity on the Uptake of Mercury in Fish.- The Role of pH and Oxidation-Reduction Potentials in the Mobilization of Heavy Metals.- Session III: Effects on Plants.- Foliar Responses That May Determine Plant Injury by Simulated Acid Rain.- Vegetation Surfaces: A Platform for Pollutant/ Parasite Interactions.- Responses of Plants to Submicron Acid Aerosols.- Polluted Rain and Plant Growth.- Effects of Atmospheric Pollutants on Soils.- Session IV: Anticipated Problems as Yet not Quantitated.- On the Dry Deposition of Acid Particles to Natural Surfaces.- Aluminum Toxicity to Fish in Acidified Waters.- Oxidants in Precipitation.- The Toxicological Implications of Biogeochemical Studies of Atmospheric Lead.- Session V: Control Problems: Monitoring Systems and Legal Aspects.- Monitoring Airborne Contaminants.- Atmospheric Deposition of Man-Made Radioactivity.- Emission Quotas for Maintaining Air Quality.- The Interstate Carriage of Pollutants: The Legal Problem and Existing Solutions.-Pollution Problems Across International Boundaries.- Sessions Chairmen.- Speakers.- Participants.