Agriculture emissions pose risks to health and climate

[Lil Liberal Laura]

Source: ScienceDaily

Date: June 21, 2022
Source: Rice University
Summary: Environmental engineers determine the economic cost of reactive nitrogen emissions from agriculture, and their significant risks to populations through air pollution and climate change.

The study led by Daniel Cohan, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, and graduate student Lina Luo quantifies emissions of nitrogen oxides, ammonia and nitrous oxide from fertilized soils over three years (2011, 2012 and 2017) and compares their impacts by region on air quality, health and climate.

While seasonal and regional impacts differ across types of emission, the study found total annual damages from ammonia were much larger overall -- at $72 billion -- than those from nitrogen oxides ($12 billion) and nitrous oxide ($13 billion).

Air pollution damages are measured by increased mortality and morbidity and the value of statistical life, while monetized damages from climate change include the threats to crops, property, ecosystem services and human health.

On that basis, the researchers found the health impact of air pollution from ammonia and nitrogen oxides, which react to form particulate matter and ozone, substantially outweighed climate impact from nitrous oxide in all regions and years.

The highest social costs arose from agriculture-heavy regions of California, Florida and the Midwest, where ammonia and nitrogen oxides form air pollution upwind of population centers. For both pollutants, emissions peak in the spring after fertilizers are applied.

Read more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220621091415.htm

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I'm sorry for the unrequested overload of adrenaline, but this is an important subject.

[old guy]

1. Indeed this is important.

I will print out the info and add it to my growing stack. I have planning committee meetings coming up where I will introduce this material in the hope that someday people will listen.

[Magoo48]

2. Yup, just as they have for at least the last 40 years.

Big Ag. and and for profit politicians makes it tough. Just another signpost on the runaway train to dystopia. And, it truly is, ALL ABOARD!

[VGNonly]

3. Cut those emissions by 90%

by going vegan.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

4. +1

and organic

[Magoo48]

5. Yup, and improve your health exponentially.

[VGNonly]

7. Going vegan

The average vegan uses 50% less carbon, 1/11 less oil, 1/13 less water and uses 1/18 less land.

The average vegan in a year saves 402,00 gallons of water, 16,425 pounds of grain, 11,000 square feet of land, 7,300 pounds of CO2 equivalent and the lives of countless animals.

Animal agriculture is non sustainable.