Saturday, November 15, 2008

Acid Rain!!!

The acid rain in Ontario is due to all the pollution this province has released into the atmosphere. Acid rain damages Ontario's lakes, rivers, forests, soils and buildings and also impacts the fish and wildlife population. Birds are greatly effected by acid rain because of their food sources that are in aquatic environments. Environment Canada states that "sulphur dioxide in the air can combine with other pollutants and water to form fine particles that can increase the risk of serious health complications for people with heart and respiratory disease". Acid Rain Biomonitoring has been established in Ontario, its goal is to make sure acid rain control systems in Canada are protecting aquatic ecosystems. "In 1998, the provinces, territories and the federal government signed The Canada-Wide Acid Rain Strategy for Post-2000, committing them to further actions to deal with acid rain" (Environment Canada, 2005) and since 1980, emissions of sulphur dioxide have reduced approx. 63%. And in 2000, Canada committed to reducing Nitrogen Oxide levels and are expected to decline 39% by 2010.

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