Nitrogen and nutrient pollution have no progress, according to the latest EPA report. It can have widespread impacts on the overall water quality that can contaminate people's drinking water supply.
Clean drinking water is essential for humans and animals in the US. The decline in air quality can have devastating effects on water security. According to the EPA, nitrogen pollution is now considered a pressing concern in the country that affects people's health.
The said pollution can lead to degraded soils and toxic algal blooms. The nitrogen entering oceans can lead to large-scale environmental problems. As a result, experts have been monitoring the water quality to avoid being polluted and contaminated.
The protection of waters is crucial in saving marine species that are vulnerable to decline due to pollution and climate change. In the new report, researchers raised concerns about the slow progress in improving water quality suffering from nutrient and nitrogen pollution.
Nitrogen Pollution in the US
Mississippi River. The latest report discovered that nitrogen and nutrient pollution showed no progress in improvement in the US, affecting water quality in the country.
Agricultural areas from the Mississippi River and other areas contributed to the pollution in the US. In the Gulf of Mexico, biodiversity can also be affected.
Researchers collected samples in 2018 and 2019, assessing the state of river conditions in the US. Understanding the stream state will help protect the river from widespread impacts, especially for ecosystems.
The recent EPA report discovered that rivers and streams in the US were in poor conditions due to nutrient pollution from farm regions. Extreme flooding events can help spread pollution in other areas of the country.
According to Tom Wall, pollution mitigation is key to restoring watersheds. There is an urgent need for progress in protecting the waters in the US. Reducing pollution will be favorable to animals and their habitats.
NOAA noted that nutrient pollution could allow the development of algae in rivers or streams. It will be problematic due to low levels of oxygen from the pollution.
Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus will be challenging for the water system. The pollution can come from the following areas:
- Farms
- Power plants
- Pet waste
- Animal manure
- Fertilizer
According to reports, authorities developed ways to build buffers to prevent potential runoff and pollutants. Conservation plans are also crucial to save animals from threats of poor water quality.
Pollution, Climate Change Impact on Forest Health, Oceans
Researchers warned of the impacts of climate change on forest and tree health exacerbated by water pollution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published the study reports.
A recent report found that a decline in forest health could stress on carbon sequestration ability of trees. When trees suffer from widespread damage, the hotter temperatures can significantly become challenging for oceans.
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