The European nitrogen case.
The N budget for Europe (excluding the former Soviet Union) indicates that the 3 principal driving forces of the acceleration of the European N cycle are fertilizer production (14 Mt (mill. tonnes) N yr-1), fossil fuel combustion and other industry (3.3 Mt N yr-1) and import of N in various products (7.6 Mt N yr-1). The various leaks of reactive N species from European food, energy and industrial production systems are estimated and their effects on human health and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are assessed. Future European environmental policy measures to close the N cycle and to reduce leaks of reactive N can best focus on the three major driving forces, taking into consideration the possible consequences in the N cascade. Critical loads may be useful tools in determining N-emission ceilings and developing integrated policies for regulating N flows such as fertilizer use and imports and N levels.
van Egmond
Klaas
K
National Institute of Public Health and Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands. nd.van.egmond@rivm.nl
Bresser
Ton
T
Bouwman
Lex
L
D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D005060:Europe; D005308:Fertilizers; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011050:Policy Making; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D014873:Water Pollutants
D005308:Fertilizers; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D014873:Water Pollutants; D009584:Nitrogen