[See also: Nitrogen deposition :: Montane Habitats, Bogs :: Nitrogen deposition and Nitrogen deposition :: Montane Habitats]
Effects and Implications
- Effects are mainly on growth, photosynthesis and nitrogen assimilation/metabolism with few species showing visible injury.
- Visible decline symptoms for example, leaf discoloration can occur at very high concentrations (> 400 ug m3)
- Direct damage to mosses, liverworts and lichens, which receive their nutrients from atmospheric deposition, often leads to reductions in species diversity, but also leads to an increase in nitrogen-loving species.
- Impacts on functioning of the bog peat ecosystem, e.g. decomposition, sulphate reduction, nitrate uptake, organic acid production (Wilson et al. 1994).
- Changes in vegetation composition, e.g. loss of plant diversity and increase in Eriophorum (cotton grass).
- Increasing numbers of heather beetles infesting C. vulgaris, encouraged by higher N levels in plants.
Overview: evidence, process and main impacts
Direct effects of NOx (the sum of nitric oxide NO and nitrogen dioxide NO2) have been recognised in the setting of a critical level concentration (Ashmore and Wilson 1994, Sanders et al. 1995). The gases are considered together partly because their concentrations in air are inextricably linked through their atmospheric chemistry, and partly because little is known of the direct effects of NO alone. However, rates of NOx deposition are rather slow, so that local impacts are likely to be less than for other pollutant gases such as ozone or ammonia.
The major role of NOx is as a transboundary pollutant, and its conversion in the atmosphere to nitric acid (HNO3) vapour and nitrate particles which are deposited directly or in precipitation many hundreds of km from sources. NOx is also a key precursor for ozone production in the atmosphere. Emission controls (apart fromin addition to those set out to protect human health) are driven by its role as an ozone precursor rather than because of its direct effects. However, direct effects may occur in the immediate vicinity of major roads and in urban areas, caused by high NOx emissions from vehicles. NOx may lead to ground flora changes related to eutrophication.
A report prepared for English Nature by Bignal et al 2004 summarised the plant responses to the exposure of the motor vehicle exhaust and motor vehicle pollutants under controlled conditions (Table 1).
Table 1: Summary of plant responses to exposure to motor vehicle exhaust and motor vehicle pollutants under controlled conditions. This table shows the responses to NO2 and NO.
+ or - is an increase or decrease in the response, 0 is no effect. The results are based on a literature review of studies. (Derived from Bignal et al. 2004).
Parameter |
NO2 |
NO |
Growth |
+, -, 0 |
- |
Visible injury |
+, 0 |
0 |
Photosynthesis |
+, -, 0 |
+, -, 0 |
NaR or NiR enzyme activity |
+, - |
- |
Ethylene production |
+ |
+ |
Leaf/tissue chemistry - nitrogen |
+, -, 0 |
|
Chlorophyll concentration |
- |
|
A fumigation study by Bell et al., 1992. on the moss Polytrichum formosum with 60 ppb (118 ug m3) NO2 for 37 weeks caused stimulation of growth of existing shoots over the initial winter period (spring growth was reduced)
Work by Angold (1997) in the New Forest, Hampshire, has shown that there is a close correlation with the extent of damage to plant health and the volume of traffic the road is carrying.
Pollutant type and risk
Type of N deposition |
Form of N |
Risk areas |
Dry deposition Gaseous |
NOx as NO2 or NO |
|
The measured NO2 concentrations across the UK highlight the predominance of traffic and urban sources, with the largest concentrations in the large conurbations and adjacent to the motorway network, with annual mean concentrations in excess of 20 µg m-3 in these areas. Urban centres are hot spots due to the high density of traffic emissions and the smaller contribution from the residential and commercial sectors, as well as other area sources such as mobile machinery (e.g. excavators, bulldozers, and front and back loaders) (RoTAP, 2012). However, in rural areas, away from industry and roads NOx concentrations are usually low and not a concern to ecosystems.
Indicators of NOx impacts
Biochemical changes have only been used as additional indicators of potentially relevant ecological responses. The current survey has considered that, in an ecological context, growth stimulation and reduction are both potentially negative responses. For instance, NOx (and NH3 and NH4 +) generally cause an increase in the shoot:root ratio, which may or may not be beneficial (WHO, 2000)
Examples of species specific responses
None available
What factors modify NOx impacts?
Responses to nitrogenous pollutants can be further modified and exacerbated by interactions with other environmental factors, including frost, drought and pest organisms. These interactions generally include increased susceptibility to these factors, which may in turn lead to major ecological changes.
Nitrogen oxides are known to have greater adverse effects in the presence of SO2 or O3, and hence the critical level should apply where these pollutants are also close to their critical level.
Habitat/ Ecosystem Type | Critical Load/ Level | Status | Reliability | Indication of exceedance | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
all vegetation categories |
30 µg NOX (as NO2) m-3 annual mean; 75 µg NOX (as NO2 ) m-3 24-hour mean |
UNECE 2004 | Uncertainty: quite reliable i.e. the results of some studies are comparable |
The concentration units are referenced as if all the NOX were in the form of NO2. (see Unit Conversion). Nitrogen oxides are known to have greater adverse effects in the presence of SO2 and O3, and hence the critical level should apply where these pollutants are close to their critical level too. |
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