Rain then washes the gases and particles from trees and other surfaces and combines to form an even more acidic solution. This transfers additional acid to the soil, which can then leach vital nutrients from it necessary for plant survival. It also can weaken the roots of trees, posing further threat to Virginia's forest productivity. Ozone smog, another product of coal-fired power plants, threatens forest health in Virginia as well. Like acid deposition, ozone smog concentrations in the mountains are among the highest in the country.
Ozone is known to cause leaf damage and growth loss to trees and other vegetation.
In the Blue Ridge Mountains, a growth rate decline in eastern white pines of 26 percent to 51 percent has been attributed to ozone pollution. In Shenandoah National Park, countless species of tree have demonstrated growth loss even at ozone levels that are below minimum federal standards. The Farmlands Ozone smog, at levels found throughout the growing season in Virginia's countryside, also interferes with photosynthesis, the process by which plants produce and store food. This results in reduced crop yields and weakens the ability of plants to withstand pests and disease. The Chesapeake Bay, a natural treasure and a resource to the state, is also experiencing decline due to air pollution.