Nitrogen pollution is rising globally, having doubled since pre-industrial times due to increased synthetic fertilizer use, fossil fuel combustion, and livestock waste, with projections suggesting a fourfold increase by 2100. This excess reactive nitrogen causes eutrophication in water, air pollution (smog/acid rain), biodiversity loss, and significant greenhouse gas emissions, threatening ecosystems and human health.

Nitrogen pollution is rising globally, having doubled since pre-industrial times due to increased synthetic fertilizer use, fossil fuel combustion, and livestock waste, with projections suggesting a fourfold increase by 2100. This excess reactive nitrogen causes eutrophication in water, air pollution (smog/acid rain), biodiversity loss, and significant greenhouse gas emissions, threatening ecosystems and human health. 

Key Drivers of Rising Nitrogen Pollution
Agricultural Intensity: -
Increased use of nitrogen-based fertilizers, with a 65 kg N/ha/year average in 2022, drives major runoff into water bodies.
Fossil Fuel Combustion: -
Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from transport, power generation, and industry are contributing to rising atmospheric nitrogen.
Waste and Management: -
Poor management of livestock waste, manure, and sewage releases high levels of ammonia. 
Environmental and Health Impacts
Water Contamination: -
Excessive nitrogen causes toxic algal blooms and oxygen-depleted "dead zones" (hypoxia) in rivers and oceans.
Air Quality and Health: -
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2𝑁𝑂2) is a major pollutant leading to smog, ground-level ozone, and increased respiratory illnesses.
Climate Change: -
N2O𝑁2𝑂 (nitrous oxide) is a potent greenhouse gas, and agriculture is a major source of its emissions.
Biodiversity Loss: -
Nitrogen deposition alters ecosystems, causing a potential 20–30% decrease in plant community richness in some ecosystems.
Mitigation and Management Solutions
Improved Efficiency: 
 Enhancing Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) in agriculture, which has varied but needs consistent improvement to reduce waste.
Policy Intervention: -
Adopting frameworks like the Colombo Declaration to manage nitrogen sustainably, as mentioned in UNEP - UN Environment Programme.
Dietary Changes:-
 Reducing consumption of meat and dairy, which have high nitrogen footprints, can reduce overall demand. 
Climate change could lead to four times the nitrogen pollution by 2100
   Global crop yield has been rising steadily from an average of 19 kg of nitrogen per hectare per year in 1961 to 65 kg N/ha/year in 2022. 

MJF Lion ER YK Sharma 

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