ints, and so on and it contributes to visible degradation and is harmful to public health. The ecological effects of acid rain depend largely upon the buffering capacity of that ecosystem. Aquatic ecosystems are affected by the increased acidity of the water. Acid rain primarily affects sensitive bodies of water, which are located in watersheds with poor buffering capacity. The lakes in Ontario are an example of this due to the hard bedrock and poor soil cover, which has poor buffering capacity; there are more than one hundred fishless lakes. (EPA) Increased mobilization of toxic heavy metals in the soil allowing them to flow freely into the water, aluminum is a particular problem because it obstructs the gills on fish. Another ecosystem that acid rain affects is forests, acid rain may effect terrestrial ecosystems in a number of ways such as increased soil activity, decreased availability of nutrients, mobilization of toxic metals, leaching important soil chemicals and changing species composition and decompose microorganisms in the soil. Human health is also affected by acid rain, damage to human health comes from dry depositions, which damages lung tissue and increases the chance of asthma and chronic bronchitis over an extended time. Heavy metals can eventually reach the human population through contaminated drinking water or fish. Toxic heavy metals have been associated with brain damage and bone disorders. (MSC)What is being done in the fight against acid rain? Acid Rain is an issue in which a veto coalition has been formed to divide and weaken the issue over time by defection, therefore strengthening of a regime that was initially ineffective. Scientific evidence was a major force in switching members of the veto coalition to advocating the international regime on acid rain reduction. Evidence has made no impact on the remaining veto coalition, which includes many industrialized countries who see acid rain reduction a...
