How does acid rain affect life in rivers and lakes?

The industrial burning of coal and other fossil fuels releases gases that contain sulphur and nitrogen oxides, which combine with atmospheric water to form acids. This rain significantly lowers the pH of water bodies, which is detrimental to aquatic ecosystems because most life forms can only withstand a very narrow pH range, which kills off fish, insects, and aquatic plant life. The harm caused by acid rain is often irreversible. In some lakes, streams, and creeks in geographically sensitive areas, like the United States' Adirondack Mountains, acid rain has eradicated brook trout.

Acid rain in rivers and lakes can harm aquatic life by altering water pH, affecting fish and other organisms' reproduction, growth, and survival. It can also lead to the release of toxic metals from sediments, further impacting aquatic ecosystems.