Dr. Viney P. Aneja, Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University
Date: Monday April 3, 2017
Place: PACCAR 202
Time: 4:10 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Agricultural air emissions produce significant local, regional and global impacts, such as odor, particulate matter (PM) exposure, eutrophication, acidification, climate effects, exposure to toxics, and pathogens. Excess reactive nitrogen threatens the quality of air, soil, and water, with implications for human health and the environment. Most important in the US are ammonia (where agriculture accounts for ~90% of total emissions), reduced sulfur (unquantified), PM2.5 (~16%), PM10 (~18%), methane (29%), nitrous oxide (72%); and odor and emissions of pathogens (both unquantified). Reactive nitrogen inputs in the US and the world have been increasing, largely due to human activities associated with food production and fossil fuel combustion. Despite the obvious benefits of a plentiful supply of food and energy, the adverse consequences associated with the accumulation of reactive nitrogen in the environment are large. Nitrogen pollution poses an even greater challenge than carbon, because once a new reactive nitrogen molecule is created, it can, in sequence, travel throughout the environment contributing to major environmental problems, i.e., the nitrogen cascade. There is a need for an integrated nitrogen management strategy and new policies that cover these concerns, while simultaneously challenging the scientific community to continue quantifying the benefits of nitrogen mitigation.
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