Nitrogen is included in many different substances and the amount is measured as Total Nitrogen. The main inorganic forms of nitrogen commonly found are ammonia, ammonium, nitrate and nitrite. Organic forms include amines, proteins and urea. Nitrogen is an essential nutrition, which can be used directly by plants. Nitrogen gas makes up about 80% of the atmosphere and is fairly non-reactive.
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Common name: Ammonia, nitrate and nitrite.
Use
The major use is as fertiliser and animal manures. Synthetic nitrogen fertilisers include substances such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, urea, nitro-lime etc.
Releases to the environment
Nitrogen released to land and water comes mainly from the use of fertilisers and manure and industrial effluents. Major releases to the atmosphere occur as a result of combustion processes. The sources are power stations and road vehicles.
Impacts on the environment and human health
Releases of nitrogen compounds give rise to concern for two reasons. Firstly from their action as plant nutrients, causing eutrophication - algal bloom -, and secondly, due to the air emission and their contribution to acidification of sensitive ecosystems. Excessive exposure to the group of nitrogen’s may affect health.
International actions
Nitrogen is covered by the OSPAR convention for the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic. Nitrogen is also listed as priority hazardous substances in the EU Water Framework Directive. Furthermore nitrogen total is on the EU-Commissions EPER list and listed in the PRTR Protocol under the Århus Convention.
CAS NO: Not applicable for a group of substances like nitrogen.