Anthropogenic nitrogen floods out in nature changing lives and landscapes

Nitrogen Pollutes More than Expected

A new European report reveals that nature is more sensitive to nitrogen run-off than previously believed, and it recommends more stringent regulations. The agriculture industry must reduce their nitrogen run-off and Europe needs to construct more extensive sewage treatment plants.

Agricultural use is the largest source of nitrogen pollution due to fertilizer use to increase food production. Large amounts of nitrogen leaches out of the ground with rainwater and flows into rivers, lakes, groundwater aquifers, and the ocean.

In addition, there is significant pollution from industry, sewage, and fish farming.

Excess Nitrogen Disrupts the ecosystem balance, affecting biodiversity.

The removal of nitrogen from wastewater is a necessity. Human waste contains a large amount of nitrogen, and removing it is a more complicated process than removing other nutrients such as phosphorus.

Dead Algae, suffocated fish

The problem occurs when algae grow faster than the ecosystem can absorb, resulting in an algal bloom. When the uneaten algae die, they sink to the seafloor where bacteria decompose them, using oxygen. Due to this decomposition process, the bottom waters often become completely oxygen-free and dead zones.

Fjords in populated area are especially vulnerable, such as the Oslo fjord, Drammen fjord, and other large fjords in the south coast.

Nitrogen has a negative effect on the Fjords as it leads to rapid growth of a filamentous algae called lurv, which takes over from kelp forests, eelgrass meadows, and other nursery habitats for fish and other marine species.

Eutrophication in Skagerrak seen from Space (foto: NASA)