Pollution And Its Effect On The Environment – Air pollution not only impacts human health, but can also be harmful to our natural environment. Pollutants in the air can be toxic to sensitive plants and trees, while pollutants in rainfall damage habitats by depositing acid or excess nutrients. Bodies of water such as rivers and lakes are also exposed to the effects of air pollution.

The greatest air pollution to our natural environment comes from the deposition of reactive nitrogen compounds such as ammonia and nitrogen oxides in sensitive locations. Deposition can occur through direct contact between polluted air and plants. This type of deposition is called “dry deposition” and usually occurs near sources of pollution.

Pollution And Its Effect On The Environment

Deposition also occurs when pollutants are dissolved in precipitation (rain and snow) that falls on sensitive sites. We call this “wet deposition” and it can occur at great distances from the source of pollution.

Environmental Impact Of Pig Farming

Ammonia is by far the largest contributor to nitrogen deposition and comes from agricultural activities such as livestock farming, manure storage and application, and fertilizer use. Further information on ammonia emissions in Northern Ireland can be found here.

Another source of nitrogen deposition is nitrogen oxides, which are produced in road traffic (petrol and diesel engines) and in some industries.

Sulfur dioxide is another air pollutant that has harmful effects on vegetation and is produced when fuels are burned, particularly coal.

The nitrogen cascade shows the nitrogen cycle in the environment (Ulli Dragosits, UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH))

Does Air Pollution Cause Climate Change?

In Northern Ireland there are 294 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 54 Special Areas of Conservation and 16 Special Areas of Conservation designated as requiring protection due to the importance of the species and habitats they support. Sites include peat bogs, native forests, species-rich grasslands, and freshwater and coastal habitats. You can find more information about protected websites here.

Ammonia can have a direct toxic effect on sensitive vegetation such as lichens and mosses. Ammonia and nitrogen deposition reduce plant species richness and diversity, favoring species that are tolerant to excess nutrients. This leads to changes in the plant and animal communities in our habitats and can also alter their ecosystem function. Peatlands, for example, sequester carbon and are therefore crucial in the fight against climate change. When bogs are damaged by ammonia and nitrogen buildup, they are no longer able to store carbon as effectively.

DAERA monitors the condition of designated sites and assessments can help identify where air pollution damage is a contributing factor to habitat degradation and species loss.

Working with partners UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology, Ulster Wildlife and the National Trust, NIEA’s Air Quality and Biodiversity Department is conducting a program of monitoring and evidence work. The work aims to identify and quantify sources of atmospheric nitrogen input to the NI designated site network, develop mitigation strategies and assess how these naturally N-poor ecosystems are impacted by nitrogen addition.

The Pollution Problem

Ammonia levels in Ballynahone Bog have been monitored since September 2014. Ammonia monitoring has been ongoing since June 2020 in a further seven SACs (Curran Bog, Garry Bog, Moneygal, Peatlands Park, Sliabh Beagh, Cuilcagh Mountain and Turmennan). At Cuilcagh SAC and Ballynahone Bog, ammonia monitoring is accompanied by wet sediment monitoring. Ammonia monitoring has also begun at Murlough SAC since July 2022.

Most ammonia air pollution collectors are replaced on a monthly basis. This monitoring is consistent with the UK National Ammonia Monitoring Network (since 1990s) as well as a network of 25 rural sites operated by the AFBI.

Across Northern Ireland as well as the amount of nitrogen deposited in rainfall. These estimates are used to make comparisons with the critical values ​​calculated for NH

The image to the right shows a wet deposition monitor in Ballynahone Bog: rainfall is collected and then samples are taken each month to analyze for the presence of nitrogen pollution.

We Must Act On Air Pollution To Prevent Climate Disaster

Biomonitoring is also carried out at several locations to determine the effect of nitrogen on vegetation. Samples for leaf analysis are collected in winter or spring, before temperatures rise and growth begins.

Locally prevailing wind patterns play a key role in atmospheric nitrogen pollution of designated sites in terms of local ammonia concentrations and N deposition from local, regional and transboundary sources. Studying local wind patterns and their temporal variability using locally measured weather data and analyzing these data in conjunction with NH

As a statutory conservation authority, NIEA is consulted on planning proposals to identify potential risks to the natural environment. Through this process, possible impacts of air pollution on protected areas can be identified. You can find ongoing advice here.

A new integrated air pollution assessment tool, UK AERIUS, is currently under development. The project is led by JNCC and funded by DEFRA and DAERA. Find out more here.

Environmental Health Concern: Impacts Of Air Pollution On The Brain

NIEA commissions and carries out research into the effects of air pollution on sensitive locations. To find out more, click here.

The NIEA Natural Environment Division led an evidence program to assess and mitigate the impacts of ammonia and nitrogen (N) deposition on Northern Ireland’s natural ecosystems. This work is in collaboration with the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and project partners: Ulster Wildlife, National Trust, Monaghan County Council and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

To find out more, watch the joint DAERA and UKCEH webinar to be held on Clean Air Day on 15 June 2023:

How to request information from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, including through Freedom of Information (FOI), Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and using our disclosure system.

What Is The Polluter Pays Principle?

Future operational protocol for assessing the impact of air pollution on the natural environment – ​​A call for evidence. Pollution is hard to escape, no matter where you live. Both indoor and outdoor pollutants have spread to every corner of the world. As levels continue to skyrocket, more and more people are starting to notice more negative health effects. A closer look at the six biggest air pollutants shows just how harmful air pollution can be. Here are the effects of air pollution on human health.

Fine dust includes all particulate pollutants in the air, many of which are hazardous to health. Researchers have repeatedly observed a direct link between PM and the progression of lung and heart disease. But particulate matter – or PM 2.5 – can be even more harmful to human health, as it can reach the deepest parts of your lungs and even your blood.

Exposure to PM 2.5 can cause short-term health effects, including eye, nose and throat irritation, which can lead to coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath. Long-term exposure will have more serious effects. Those who already suffer from asthma and heart disease are likely to experience a worsening of their condition. Meanwhile, even healthy people can develop chronic heart and lung diseases or cancer, which can lead to premature death.

Carbon-containing fuels such as wood, natural gas, oil and coal produce carbon monoxide when burned. Before the industrial revolution, CO was not a problem. Now cars and power plants produce so much carbon that the planet is warming and people are suffocating. In the United States, transportation alone accounts for nearly 30% of these emissions, making it the largest source of CO in America.

Global Assessment Of Soil Pollution

Inhaling high levels of carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream, which can cause a number of serious health effects. Headaches, chest pain, impaired reaction times, dizziness, unconsciousness and even death are common side effects of CO poisoning. Very high CO levels are unlikely outdoors. However, even small amounts can cause serious problems in people with heart disease or other pre-existing conditions.

Under appropriate conditions, sunlight reacts with pollutants such as carbon monoxide and other vehicle exhaust to form ozone. Ozone concentrations are higher near the ground and are a major factor in the development and exacerbation of asthma. This gaseous pollutant can also cause wheezing and coughing and increase the risk of respiratory infections and pneumonia.

In recent years, researchers have also discovered that inhaling ozone can be fatal. Both short-term and chronic exposure can damage the central nervous system and lead to reproductive and developmental complications. In some cases, ozone has even caused heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. All of these health problems can lead to an early death.

Nitrogen oxides can also be released when fuel is burned. This pollutant often comes from emissions from cars, trucks, buses, power plants and commercial equipment. Breathing air with high NO2 concentrations can strain the respiratory tract and cause coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Long-term exposure can also increase the risk of developing asthma and respiratory infections.

Reducing The Environmental Impact Of Construction

Sometimes NO2 and other oxides such as nitrous acid and nitric acid interact with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form acid rain. While walking through acid rain may not cause physical harm, inhaling nitric oxide particles as the liquid evaporates is likely to affect heart and lung function, especially in people who already have asthma.

Marine engines, diesel equipment, smelting, metal extraction and coal emit sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. Natural volcanic activities are also responsible for a large portion of SO2 emissions. However, regardless of where this pollutant comes from, it can be harmful

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