lakes in Maine, but not elsewhere in New England. In 2003, US EPA compiled an
assessment of the surface chemistry of lakes and streams in the Northern and Eastern
United States. This assessment showed that the concentration of sulfate in New
England lakes is decreasing. About 30% of the lakes in New England that were
acidic are no longer considered acidic. In New England, the “acid neutralization
capacity” (ANC), the ability of the environment to neutralize acidic precipitation,
has not significantly improved, but this was observed in the Adirondacks and in
other areas. The soil in New England is slower to react than that in the Adirondacks,
so it will take longer for the ANC in New England to improve.
The full recovery of New England’s aquatic ecosystems will take more time. In
some cases, it will be decades before we see ecosystems fully restored to their
pre-industrial condition.
8.10 Acid Rain and Other Pollution Problems
In addition to the direct effects of acid rain, both the emissions and the attempts to
control them affect other forms of environmental pollution.
Sulfur and nitrate emissions can also lead to the formation of small particles.
These particles are too small to fall out of the atmosphere. They can get deep into
your lungs, and some may even get into your bloodstream. Exposure to such
particles can affect both the lungs and the heart. Larger particles are of less concern,
although they can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat [71].
Also, small particles scatter light, which can reduce visibility. This detracts from
our appreciation of the many magnificent scenic vistas in New England and the rest
of the world. This is called Regional Haze problem [72]. US EPA and other agencies
have been monitoring visibility in national parks and wilderness areas since 1988. In
1999, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced a major effort to
improve air quality in national parks and wilderness areas. The Regional Haze
Rule calls for state and federal agencies to work together to improve visibility in
156 national parks and wilderness areas such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the
Great Smokies, and Shenandoah [72].
The rule requires the states, in coordination with the Environmental Protection
Agency, the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Forest
Service, and other interested parties, to develop and implement air quality protection
plans to reduce the pollution that causes visibility impairment.
Nitrogen oxides are also important in the formation of ground-level ozone. In the
presence of sunlight, they can react with other chemicals to increase the concentration of ozone to a point where it can lead to health effects. Ground-level or “bad”
ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions
between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the
presence of sunlight. Emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor
vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents are some of the major
sources of NOx and VOC. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems,
7 Lake Restoration
297
assessment of the surface chemistry of lakes and streams in the Northern and Eastern
United States. This assessment showed that the concentration of sulfate in New
England lakes is decreasing. About 30% of the lakes in New England that were
acidic are no longer considered acidic. In New England, the “acid neutralization
capacity” (ANC), the ability of the environment to neutralize acidic precipitation,
has not significantly improved, but this was observed in the Adirondacks and in
other areas. The soil in New England is slower to react than that in the Adirondacks,
so it will take longer for the ANC in New England to improve.
The full recovery of New England’s aquatic ecosystems will take more time. In
some cases, it will be decades before we see ecosystems fully restored to their
pre-industrial condition.
8.10 Acid Rain and Other Pollution Problems
In addition to the direct effects of acid rain, both the emissions and the attempts to
control them affect other forms of environmental pollution.
Sulfur and nitrate emissions can also lead to the formation of small particles.
These particles are too small to fall out of the atmosphere. They can get deep into
your lungs, and some may even get into your bloodstream. Exposure to such
particles can affect both the lungs and the heart. Larger particles are of less concern,
although they can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat [71].
Also, small particles scatter light, which can reduce visibility. This detracts from
our appreciation of the many magnificent scenic vistas in New England and the rest
of the world. This is called Regional Haze problem [72]. US EPA and other agencies
have been monitoring visibility in national parks and wilderness areas since 1988. In
1999, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced a major effort to
improve air quality in national parks and wilderness areas. The Regional Haze
Rule calls for state and federal agencies to work together to improve visibility in
156 national parks and wilderness areas such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the
Great Smokies, and Shenandoah [72].
The rule requires the states, in coordination with the Environmental Protection
Agency, the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Forest
Service, and other interested parties, to develop and implement air quality protection
plans to reduce the pollution that causes visibility impairment.
Nitrogen oxides are also important in the formation of ground-level ozone. In the
presence of sunlight, they can react with other chemicals to increase the concentration of ozone to a point where it can lead to health effects. Ground-level or “bad”
ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions
between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the
presence of sunlight. Emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor
vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents are some of the major
sources of NOx and VOC. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems,
7 Lake Restoration
297