Impacts of nitrogen emissions on ecosystems and human health: A mini review

Increased inputs of reactive nitrogen (N) by fertiliser production cause adverse effects on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as well as human health, through impacts on air, soil and water quality. The best quantified adverse impacts include: (i) the loss of plant diversity in terrestrial ecosystems and excess algal growth in aquatic ecosystems, leading to oxygen-deficient ‘dead zones’, by N-induced eutrophication and acidification and (ii) human health impacts due to increased concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, NOx-induced ozone and N-induced particulate matter. Considering that the economic benefits of improved air and water quality outweigh the costs of reductions measures, there is ample reason to reduce N emissions, both from agriculture and from traffic and industrial sources.