Impact of Acid Sulfate Soil
Disturbing potential acid sulfate soils can have a destructive effect on plant and fish life, and on aquatic ecosystems. Flushing of acidic leachate to groundwater and surface waters can cause a number of impacts, including:
- Ecological damage to aquatic and riparian ecosystems through fish kills, increased fish disease outbreaks, dominance of acid-tolerant species, precipitation of iron, etc.
- Effects on estuarine fisheries and aquaculture projects (increased disease, loss of spawning area, etc.).
- Contamination of groundwater with arsenic, aluminium and other heavy metals.
- Reduction in agricultural productivity through metal contamination of soils (predominantly by aluminium).
- Damage to infrastructure through the corrosion of concrete and steel pipes, bridges and other sub-surface assets.
Read more about this topic: Acid Sulfate Soil
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