Nitrates: An Environmental Assessment : A Report (Scientific and technical assessments of environmental pollutants)

Prepared By The Panel On Nitrates Of The Coordinating Committee For Scientific And Technical Assessments Of Environmental Pollutants. Includes Bibliographies. Abstract: The panel on Nitrates of the Environmental Studies Board, at the request of the Environmental Protection Agency, evaluated nitrates as potential environmental pollutants. A review of the current scientific and tecnological knowledge on the nitrogen cycle is given: physical and chemical properties; biological processes; sources, distribution, and biogeochemical transformation of nitrates; techniques for analysis and measurement of nitrogen compounds; mass-balance nitrogen studies; effects of nitrate exposures on plants, animals, and the inanimate environment; and ecological problems of nitrates on human health (carcinogenic nitrosamines, atmospheric nitric acid), ecological effects of nitrate pollutants (nitrogen fertilizers in the soil, nitrogen eutrophication of lakes, acid rains), toxic effects of nitrates, and nitrogen-related ozone depletion of the atmosphere. Control techniques, preventive measures, economic factors and policy considerations of nitrate pollution are discussed