With acidification, the pH value of an ecosystem (e.g. soil or water) decreases. The decrease in pH causes numerous environmental consequences such as the decimation of fish stocks in number and variety. The main causes are emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the air as well as ammonia (NH3) emissions from agricultural processes.
The EN 15804 + A2 prescribes the “Accumulated Exceedance” method for the acidification potential. This method quantifies the area on which the carrying capacity of the ecosystems is exceeded and the extent of the exceedance.
For the calculation the EK-JRC characterization factors shall be used: http://eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/LCDN/developerEF.xhtml
The sensitivity of the ecosystems is taken into account. As a result, the characterization factors for Germany are e.g. approx. 2.5 times higher than the values for Austria.

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