Assessment of nitrogen loads to aquatic systems

Date

1993 1993 Nov 14

Authors

Patwardhan AS
Donigian AS
Barnwell TO
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry PU

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

Nitrogen is ubiquitous in the environment, released by many mobile and stationary sources, and is a major plant nutrient applied as fertilizers and animal wastes. EPA has recognized the importance of nitrogen in the environment for both beneficial (e.g. soil fertility, plant nutrition) and deleterious effects, ranging from the control of ozone distribution, greenhouse gas impacts, air pollution, acidification and eutrophication of surface waters, and contamination of groundwater drinking supplies. In 1988 the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) estimated the various sources of nitrogen to the Chesapeake Bay; these included 24% from point sources, 39% from atmospheric deposition (including both nitrate and ammonia), 34% from fertilizers, and 4% from animal wastes. They further projected that the atmospheric component would increase to 55% by the year 2030. In this paper we present analysis related to the applicability of the EDF approach and associated findings to other parts of the country, in particular the Gulf Coast region (Galveston Bay, Tampa Bay) and the Upper Mississippi Drainage. The objective of the study is to estimate the contributions of atmospheric nitrogen deposition to the study sites listed above with respect to the nitrogen contributions from non-point and point sources. The overall approach consists of establishing nitrogen balances for all land uses and aquatic systems, so that total nitrogen contributions can be estimated and individual components identified. This type of information will be developed so that individual land use balances can be quantified, and integrated with aquatic systems components. This information will then be compared to the EDF procedures to identify appropriate assumptions for estimating nitrogen fluxes between and among the systems components. (DBO)

Description

-Ecological

Keywords

Air, Air pollution, analysis, animal wastes, ANW,USA,Chesapeake Bay, ASW,USA,Texas,Galveston Bay, Atmospheric, Contamination, Deposition, Distribution, Drainage water, Environmental protection, Eutrophication, Fertilizers, Galveston Bay, Ground water, groundwater, Land Use, Nitrate, Nitrogen, Nutrient cycles, Pollution, Pollution control, pollution effects, Q5 01504 Effects on organisms, Risk, Risk assessment, Surface water, Toxicity, Toxicology, USA, water

Citation