The Nation - News from April 25, 1988

Scientists have concluded that acid rain is one of the main pollutants threatening marine life in Atlantic coastal waters, the New York Times reported. Up to now, most experts have assumed that agricultural runoff and sewage were the major culprits responsible for the increasing number of mass killings of marine life along the Northeast coast, the newspaper said. But a new report prepared by scientists of the Environmental Defense Fund, a nonprofit environmental group, shows for the first time that acid rain is also contributing to the problem, according to the newspaper. Acid rain, which comes from nitrogen oxides in emissions from automobiles and power plants, encourages algae growth, which in turn uses up oxygen needed by marine plants and animals, the report said.