Health Risks from Acid Rain: A Canadian Perspective

Abstract

Acidic deposition, commonly referred to as acid rain, is causing serious environmental damage in eastern Canada. The revenues from forest products, tourism and sport fishing are estimated to account for about 8% of the gross national product. The impact on human health is not as clearcut and a multi-department program on the Long-Range Transport of Airborne Pollutants (LRTAP) was approved by the federal government in June 1980. The objectives of the LRTAP program are to reduce wet sulfate deposition to less than 20 kg/ha per year in order to protect moderately sensitive areas. This will require a 50% reduction in Canadian SO2 emissions east of the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border and concomitant reductions in the eastern U.S.A. The objectives of the health sector of the program are to assess the risk to health posed by airborne pollutants which are subjected to long-range transport and to monitor the influence of abatement programs. Two major epidemiology studies were undertaken in 1983, one in which the health effects related to acute exposure to transported air pollutants were studied in asthmatic and nonasthmatic children, and another in which the effects of chronic exposure to these pollutants were studied in school children living in towns with high and low levels of pollutants. Preliminary analysis of the data do not indicate major health effects, but definitive conclusions must await final analysis. Studies on the indirect effects of acid deposition on water quality have shown that acidified lake water left standing in the plumbing system can adversely affect water quality and that federally set guidelines for copper and lead are exceeded. Flushing of the system before using the water rectifies the situation. Additional studies are planned to further delineate the magnitude of the health effects of acidified lake water.

Chemical Evaluation of Commercial Bottled Drinking Water from Egypt

“…An optimal taste was found at 270 and 90 mg/L for calcium sulphate and magnesium sulphate, respectively (Zoeteman, 1980). Sulphate concentrations in rain water in Canada varied between 1.0 and 3.8 mg/L in 1980 (Franklin, 1985). An annual mean value of about 6 mg/L in precipitation over central Europe has been reported .…”

Modeling estimates of the effect of acid rain on background radiation dose.

“…Troedsson reported that although pH changes in forest soils were slight, marked losses of exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K had occurred, presumably due to acid rain (2). Troedsson have also failed to statistically prove a relationship between acid rain and human health, although trends of detrimental effects were apparent (4). Few studies have considered radiological effects on man that may result from acid rain.…”

Determinación de nitritos, nitratos, sulfatos y fosfatos en agua potable como indicadores de contaminación ocasionada por el hombre, en dos cantones de Alajuela (Costa Rica)

“…Por otra parte, las concentraciones de sulfato en lluvia oscilaban entre 1,0 y 3,8 mg/L en 1980 [6]; se ha notificado un valor medio anual de alrededor de 6 mg/L de precipitación sobre Europa central [7]. Los niveles de sulfato en agua de lluvia y agua superficial se correlacionan con las emisiones de dióxido de azufre ocasionadas por la actividad humana [8], principalmente provenientes de motores que utilizan como combustible diésel.…”