Thursday, October 7, 2010

Too Much of a Good Thing: Human Activities Overload Ecosystems with Nitrogen

Too Much of a Good Thing: Human Activities Overload Ecosystems with Nitrogen
Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:00:00 -0500

Photo of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala showing algae growth.

Humans are overloading ecosystems with nitrogen through the burning of fossil fuels and an increase in nitrogen-producing industrial and agricultural activities, according to a new study. While nitrogen is an element that is essential to life, it is an environmental scourge at high levels.

According to the study, excess nitrogen that is contributed by human activities pollutes fresh waters and coastal zones, and may contribute to climate change. Nevertheless, such ecological damage ...

More at http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=117744&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click


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