Sustaining
the Environment
Tracking Nitrogen Problems
Scientists affiliated with UC Davis’ Agricultural Sustainability Institute are studying the environmental and health impacts of nitrogen, a naturally occurring chemical element and a key component of many agricultural fertilizers. Nitrogen also is produced in the waste of livestock and poultry, and as a byproduct of using oil, gasoline and diesel in farm machinery.
Escaped nitrogen from these many agricultural sources affects the quality of our air, water, and soil and has huge potential to contribute to climate change. The researchers are documenting the impacts of nitrogen, including increased respiratory diseases caused by air pollution, greater health risks linked to groundwater nitrates, and runoff-related “deadzones” in coastal waters that won’t support aquatic life.
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