China suffering from rising nitrogen emissions

Nature : China’s air pollution woes are quickly becoming critical, due in large part to increased nitrogen emissions from agriculture, industry, and transportation. The full extent of the problem only recently came to light because of a study by Zhang Fusuo of the China Agricultural University in Beijing and colleagues in which they analyzed data collected over the past 30 years from some 270 monitoring sites around the country. They found that between 1980 and 2010 the amount of nitrogen deposition increased by 60% and that plants were absorbing up to 33% more nitrogen than they were in 1980. The researchers also found that nitrogen emissions from transportation and industry are increasing more rapidly than those from agriculture. China is not the only country suffering from rising nitrogen pollution, however: Worldwide, about 140 million tons of nitrogen is being emitted every year, which is affecting the climate, the environment, and public health.