Ammonia emission trends

Trends in Ammonia Emissions Over Recent Decades... 

The largest sources of atmospheric NH3 are from fertilizer application and livestock washes. Studies of long-term trends imply a 50% increase in ammonia emission in Europe during 30 years between 1950 and 1980. A substantial amount of N is lost as volatile NH3 from plants after fertilizer application and during the senescence... 

Ammonia emissions play an important role in the acidification of soil and surface waters. Deposition of ammonium accounts for approximately 30% of the total nitrogen deposition measured in eastern North America and has not changed appreciably over the past 30 years. Trends in U.S. ammonia emissions are consistent with this pattern and have shown little change over the past 10 years. 

Kean AJ, Littlejohn D, Ban-Weiss GA, Harley RA, Kirchstetter TW, Lunden MM (2009) Trends in on-road vehicle emissions of ammonia. Atmos Environ 43 1565-1570... 

Major environmental trends that we see for land, air, water, and transportation of environmentally hazardous materials are shown in Box 9. These trends require that we get ahead of these issues and lead the chemical industry in the reduction of toxic metal (e.g., Sb, Sn, As) compounds, greenhouse gases, mercury emissions, and sulfur from gasoline and diesel, and find ways to control and sequester C02. Reduction of arsenic, as well as nitrates and ammonia, in drinking water is necessary. It is also imperative in these days of terrorism that we reduce transportation and storage of hazardous materials and continue our drive to develop inherently safer processes. 

Even though carpet emissions have been declared to produce no adverse health effects, the issue of new carpet odor had to be addressed. As a result, the SBLC member companies have reduced VOC emissions by 95 % since 1988. With present low VOC latex and proper drying technique, carpet manufacturers today can produce odor free carpet. As weU as creating an odor free environment for the carpet consumer by reducing VOCs, the trend toward ammonia free latex is also creating a more worker friendly environment in the manufacturing site. 

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