What are the environmental impacts of aerosols?
Particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in size (PM2.5) is a predominant cause of reduced visibility (haze). PM also contributes to acid deposition, causing damage to local ecosystems. PM may settle in bodies of water, resulting in an increased acidity of lakes and streams, and a modification of the nutrient balance of costal waters and river basins, causing large lakes to become unsuitable to support fish populations. Acid deposition contributes to corrosion, vegetation damage, and nutrient depletion in soil. PM serves as a means of transport for pollutants such as heavy metals and pesticides. For example, persistent semi-volatile pollutants can evaporate into the atmosphere, bind to PM, and then be transported and deposited in a different geographical location.
