2 results
18 - Nitrogen as a threat to European air quality
- from Part IV - Managing nitrogen in relation to key societal threats
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- By Jana Moldanová, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Ltd, Peringe Grennfelt, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Ltd, Åsa Jonsson, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, David Simpson, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Till Spranger, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Wenche Aas, NILU, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, John Munthe, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Ari Rabl, ARMINES/Ecoles des Mines de Paris
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 405-433
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- Chapter
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
Atmospheric emissions of nitrogen oxides and ammonia are contributing to a number of negative effects to human health and ecosystems. These effects include both effects of the primary emissions but more importantly through actions of secondary pollutants such as ground level ozone (O3) and secondary particulate matter (PM).
The main air pollution effects include effects of nitrogen dioxide to human health, effects from ground level ozone to human health and vegetation and effects from particulate ammonium and nitrate to human health. There is a difficulty of ascribing health effects to NO2 per se at ambient levels rather than considering NO2 as a surrogate for a traffic-derived air pollution mixture.
Approaches
The chapter gives a brief review of our current understanding of the mechanisms and processes regarding N-containing air pollutants and their effects on human health, vegetation (effects of reactive nitrogen on ecosystems through eutrophication and acidification is treated in Dise et al., 2011; Velthof et al., 2011, Chapters 20 and 21, this volume) and materials. It presents historical development, current situation and outlines future perspectives of reactive nitrogen related air pollution and its effects in Europe in relation to national and EU legislation on emission limitation and air quality control.
Key findings/state of knowledge
In the EU-27 countries, 60% of the population lives in areas where the annual EU limit value of NO2 is exceeded. Air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide are exceeded mainly in urban areas. Concentrations have decreased since 1990, although the downward trends have been smaller or even disappeared after 2000.
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14 - Atmospheric transport and deposition of reactive nitrogen in Europe
- from Part III - Nitrogen flows and fate at multiple spatial scales
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- By David Simpson, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Wenche Aas, NILU, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Jerzy Bartnicki, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Haldis Berge, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Albert Bleeker, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Kees Cuvelier, Frank Dentener, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Tony Dore, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Jan Willem Erisman, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Hilde Fagerli, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Chris Flechard, Soils, Agro-hydro systems and Spatialization, Ole Hertel, University of Aarhus, Hans van Jaarsveld, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Mike Jenkin, Atmospheric Chemistry Services, Martijn Schaap, TNO Built Environment and Geosciences, Valiyaveetil Shamsudheen Semeena, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Philippe Thunis, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Robert Vautard, LSCE/IPSL laboratoire CEA/CNRS/VSQ, Massimo Vieno, University of Edinburgh
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 298-316
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- Chapter
- Export citation
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
Observations of atmospheric reactive nitrogen (Nr) deposition are severely restricted in spatial extent and type. The chain of processes leading to atmospheric deposition emissions, atmospheric dispersion, chemical transformation and eventual loss from the atmosphere is extremely complex and therefore currently, observations can only address part of this chain.
Approaches
Modelling provides a way of estimating atmospheric transport and deposition of Nr at the European scale. A description of the different model types is provided.
Current deposition estimates from models are compared with observations from European air chemistry monitoring networks.
The main focus of the chapter is at the European scale; however, both local variability and and intercontinental Nr transfers are also addressed.
Key findings/state of knowledge
Atmospheric deposition is a major input of Nr for European terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems as well as coastal sea areas.
Models are key tools to integrate our understanding of atmospheric chemistry and transport, and are essential for estimating the spatial distribution of deposition, and to support the formulation of air pollution control strategies.
Our knowledge of the reliability of models for deposition estimates is, however, limited, since we have so few observational constraints on many key parameters.
Total Nr deposition estimates cannot be directly assessed because of a lack of measurements, especially of the Nr dry deposition component. Differences among European regional models can be significant, however, e.g. 30% in some areas, and substantially more than this for specific locations.