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Lake Honnedaga is located in the southwestern part of the Adirondack Park. Acid rain has
caused all of its fish population to perish. Its deep blue color is due to the lack of plankton
and other microscopic life. In addition, fish larvae in acidic waters are compacted, deformed
and unable to hatch. For fish that make it to maturity, the runoff of leached aluminum caused
by acid rain, erodes their gill tissue and cellular debris between their gill filaments,
preventing them from absorbing oxygen. Eventually, the fish suffocate and die. Similarly,
for humans, methemoglobenemia is a blood disorder caused by high nitrate levels in the water
supply. Nitrate blocks the oxygen carrying capacity in red blood cells and therefore, no
oxygen can be filtered throughout the body. Thus, the disorder causes suffocation. Babies
are highly susceptible to this disease, hence its alternative name is "blue baby."
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