solve the problems of acid rain.

Although the Island is unlikely to be affected by the phenomenon, the Bermuda Biological Station is seen as a top ecological research establishment.

The meeting of great minds from Asia, Europe and North and South America was sponsored by the United Nations Environmental Programme and the World Meteorological Organisations.

Dr. Doug Whelpdale, at the Biological Station, said: "The idea was to continue research into how serious acid rain deposits are around the world.

"This particular workshop had the purpose of scientists bringing data together so we could all work on it.

"The most important result was that we found data available from Africa, South America and South East Asia. They are all parts of the world where there has not been much data available in the past.

"We know the situation is bad in North East America and Europe but not from developing parts of the world. We are now getting a global view.'' It is already known that lakes in Norway, Sweden and Canada have such high levels of acid content that they are classified as "dead''. Living organisms are unable to exist in the water.

In Japan concerns are particularly high over how the population's health is being affected by acid rain.

The acid rain is caused by heavy industry pumping out pollution into the atmosphere which comes to rest with worrying effects.

And fears are growing that Caribbean countries, which are becoming more industrialised, have no natural "buffers'' against the acids.

Dr. Whelpdale said Bermuda had a limestone base acting as a buffer to stop absorption of the sodium and nitrates deposited by acid rain.

He said: "We do experience some of the acid pollutants because we are downwind from North East America but we are monitoring the situation. Jim Galloway, Tony Knap and myself are able to measure any pollutants.'' Dr. Whelpdale said that the Biological Station's reputation had made it a good venue for the workshop and people found it had a good atmosphere in which to work.

Despite worries about the acid rain situation globally there was good news.

Some countries are already cutting down sulphur dioxide deposits by around 30 percent.

Now scientists are monitoring whether the acidity problems of "dead'' lakes can be reversed and whether the waters can sustain biological life in the future.

Dr. Tony Knap.