Environment: Lingering legacy of acid rain
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Despite big cuts in air pollution which causes acid rain, the damaged rivers and lakes of Wales have shown next to no recovery from acidification, a scientific study has found.
The Welsh Acid Waters Survey 1995 found no improvement in fish and other freshwater life since a previous investigation back in 1984. Yet during this period UK emissions of sulphur dioxide, the most important acid rain pollutant, fell by 35 per cent - mainly due to a fall in coal burning by power stations. Welsh river and lake water became slightly less acid, and lower in sulphur, but the invertebrates, fish and the dipper - a small bird which scurries along stream bottoms in search of invertebrate prey - showed no recovery at all. It is estimated that about 8,000 miles of rivers and streams are affected.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments