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Acid Rain: Dying lakes, dying crops
When fish started turning belly up in lakes and streams, North America's eyes were suddenly opened to the consequences of pollution. But long after acid rain became a household word and Canada decided to take action, the United States was still hesitant to curb its share of industrial pollutants. For years Prime Minister Brian Mulroney courted a reluctant American president while Canadian activists lobbied and spread the word. Results came eventually, but it may have been too little too late.
Just a year ago, politicians refused to acknowledge the problem even existed. With the release of this report, the problem becomes a central issue. Acid rain is killing fish, vegetation and forests across North America, and scientists believe the effects will be catastrophic if left untreated.
. More contributing causes of acid rain – from automobiles and other industries – were soon found.
. Acid rain in Canada was first discovered in Killarney, Ont., in Lumsden Lake. Two scientists doing experiments with fish populations noticed the fish dying before their very eyes - for no apparent reason. Conferring with locals uncovered a trend: fish were slowly disappearing from lakes all over the Georgian Bay region. The region is close to Inco, the nickel smelting company that was found to be one of North America's worst contributors to acid rain.
. Increased levels of acidity were discovered years before any link was made to the health of lake life. Canada's lakes began deteriorating around 1950. In the 1960s and early 1970s, Scandinavians found the same phenomenon occurring in their lakes. Similarly, Americans were finding lakes dying in the Adirondacks region of New York.
. Starting at about the time of this news report, acid rain became a staple news item and remained in the headlines for the next 10 years.
Program: The National
Broadcast Date: Oct. 15, 1979
Guest(s): Warren Godson
Host: Knowlton Nash
Reporter: David Bert
Duration: 1:53
Last updated: February 6, 2012
Page consulted on March 26, 2013
All Clips from this Topic
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The first report on acid rain alerts the public, and the government, t...
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Resort owners recount their fright as the source of their livelihood, ...
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Another massive report, another call to action with no results
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Three environmentalists climb a smokestack to draw attention to indust...
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Prime Minister Mulroney requests acid rain co-operation in a speech to...
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Eastern Canada's trees are weakening under the strain of acid rain.
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When fish started turning belly up in lakes and streams, North America...