European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 26, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday april 26. 1988 the stars and stripes Page 7 acid rain is serious threat to Marine life along Atlantic coast scientists report Washington not acid rain already recognized As a serious threat to Freshwater organisms is also contributing far More to the degradation of Marine life in Atlantic coastal Waters than previously recognized according to a new report. Up to now most experts have assumed that agricultural Runoff and sewage were the main pollutants responsible for the in creasing frequency of mass killings of Marine life along the northeastern coast. But the new report shows Tor the first time that acid rain is also a major culprit. It suggests that a reversal of the declining Quality of Atlantic coastal Waters will depend on Mea sures to control air pollution As Well As pol Lution on the land. The study is also Likely to add new fuel to the scientific debate Over the effects of acid rain and to the Battle in Congress Over whether stringent new controls arc needed for the sources of the pollution that causes acid rain. The air pollutant causing problems Inthis Case is not Fulfur dioxide the primary component of acid rain but oxides of m Trogen a secondary component that is mainly produced by automobiles and elec tric utilities. In the atmosphere nitrogen oxides arc convened into nitric acids. The damage to coastal aquatic life highlighted in the new report results not from acidity but from eutrophication in which excessive growth of algae stimulated by the nitrogen and other nutrients chokes off the oxygen Supply and blocks the sunlight required by other plants and animals. Prepared by scientists of the Environ mental defense fund a non profit environmental group the study found that air borne nitrates mostly from motor vehicles Power plants and other Industrial facilities Are a major source of the nitrogen that is polluting Eastern coastal Waters. The conclusion was endorsed by other scientists who have read drafts of the re port. Joel s. O Connor an ecologist wit the waste management Institute of the state University of new York at Stony Brook said that the report was a acc uni acid rain in North America a major sources of Fulfur dioxide emissions e3 areas sensitive to acid rain major storm paths created by prevailing winds Chicago Tribuna orap Nic source environment a Matt Cally Good Job that Points out a problem that is not widely recognized  George Hidy director of the Environ ment division of the electric Power re search inst Etc a research association futility companies that Emit Large amounts of Fulfur and nitrogen fro their plants called the report s findings an interesting and surprising hypothesis that needs to be  he said he would Welcome the Chance to look at the report in detail. The study focuses on Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and found that atmospheric sources account for about a fourth of the nitrates entering the Bay second Only to fertilizers which accounted for about a third. The report said that Nitro Gen in acid rain also contributed significantly to degradation of the Waters of Long Island sound the new York bight and North Carolina s Albemarle Pamlico sound. Or. Michael Oppon Heimur an atmospheric physicist for the environmental group and a co author of the report said the findings arc important because acid rain had previously been thought of largely As a problem that affected a few Hundred or a few thousand acidified lakes in Remote  now he said it can be demonstrated that nitrogen i acid rain is having a direct Impact on coastal resources used by millions of peo ple. It is choking off the Ocean s Nurs eries be said. It is shutting Down the playground for millions of americans. It is a Region wide problem and it is Only going to get worse because of the projected growth of nitrogen  Oppenheimer the other authors of the report were Diane Fisher Jane Ceraso and Thomas Mathew. Nitrogen is a nutrient that stimulate the proliferation of algae in water. These algae use up the dissolved oxygen required by other Marine life and Cloud the water a process called eutrophication thus reducing the amount of sunlight that penetrates the surface. Along with other pollutants like toxic chemicals in creased nitrogen is believed to be contributing to a Long term decline in fish and other aquatic animals and plants Inmany areas. It plays a Central role in the increased susceptibility of coastal Waters to dramatic Short term algae blooms that kill fish and plants. Acid rain results from pollution chiefly oxides of Fulfur and nitrogen from Power plants and other sources that bum Fossil fuels like Coal and Oil that is trans formed chemically As it travels through the atmosphere and Falls in Earth As acidified rain Stow fog or dry particles. Congress is considering amendments to the clean air act that would among other things require Sharp reductions in these Fulfur and nitrogen emissions. These amendments Are supported by environmentalists and states downwind from the pollution sources chiefly in the Midwest. But they Are opposed by the Reagan administration by Industry Andy others who contend that the damage to human health and the environment caused by acid rain is not significant enough to warrant the High Cost of cur tailing emissions. Forbidden foods protested by jewish students Waltham mass. Not a group of Brandeis University students who say that the serving of pork and shellfish in Campus dining Halls is an affront to Judaism staged a protest sunday in which they erected a Cluster of shanties and called it  Brandeis was founded in 1948 by jews As an alter native to colleges that placed quotas on jewish applicants and it depends largely on jewish donors. Two thirds of its students arc jewish. The school began offering shellfish and pork in the cafeteria last fall As part of an Effort to make non jews feel More comfortable. Jews who observe Kosher dietary Laws do not eat port or shellfish but most jews at Brandeis and elsewhere in the United states do not strictly observe jewish dietary Laws and the conflict Over the new menu has underscored the friction within bran Deis Over the extent to which Judaism should affect the character of the University. Most Brandeis students agree with the decision to serve pork and shellfish according to a Pou by the student newspaper but other students and some faculty members say they feel deeply insulted by the move. More than so students gathered in front of the school s administration building to debate the role Judaism should play in the life of the school and to unveil three shanties to represent the Homes of the three Little pigs in the children s fairy tale. The University has Given permission for the structures to stay up for one month. Pork and shellfish have always been offensive sym Bols to the jewish Community said Stuart Kolinsky a Junior from Bellmore n.y., who is a member of the student organization that sponsored the protest. Ted Frank a member of the Brandeis student Senate said that a majority of students disagree. The general feeling is that we re not forcing them to eat pork and they should t be forcing us not to cat pork he said. Pork and shellfish Are available in one of two Campus dining Halls and Are not served in the dining Hall where Kosher meals Are offered. Of 2,900 undergraduate Stu dents at the school 300 buy Kosher meal plans. When pork and shellfish were first served in the fall their presence in the cafeteria sparked debates on Cam pus and prompted some alumni to withhold contributions to the school. The Issue has quieted since then. Administrators say that donations from alumni have not diminished and that Clam chowder has become on of the most popular items on the menu. A Survey by the Campus newspaper last fall indicated that 65 percent to 70 percent of students were not bothered by the new foods. Jonathan Krasner editor of the student newspaper the Brandeis Justice estimated that is percent of the students Are still angry w the the administration particularly with president Evelyn e. Handler Over the decision to alter the menu. Oil spill threatens san Francisco area wildlife Martinez Calif