Evidence for changing the Critical Level for ammonia

Cape, J N.; van der Eerden, L. J.; Sheppard, L. J.; Leith, I. D.; Sutton, M. A.

Evidence for changing the Critical Level for ammonia

Cape, J N. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5538-588X; van der Eerden, L. J.; Sheppard, L. J.; Leith, I. D.; Sutton, M. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6263-6341. 2009 Evidence for changing the Critical Level for ammonia. Environmental Pollution, 157 (3). 1033-1037. 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.049

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.049

Abstract/Summary

The current Critical Level for ammonia (CLENH3) in Europe is set at 8 µg NH3 m-3 as an annual average concentration. Recent evidence has shown specific effects of ammonia (NH3) on plant community composition (a true ecological effect) at much smaller concentrations. The methods used in setting a CLENH3 are reviewed, and the available evidence collated, in proposing a new CLENH3 for different types of vegetation. For lichens and bryophytes, we propose a new CLENH3 of 1 µg NH3 m-3 as a long-term (several year) average concentration; for higher plants, there is less evidence, but we propose a CLENH3 of 3 ± 1 µg NH3 m-3 for herbaceous species. There is insufficient evidence to provide a separate CLENH3 for forest trees, but the value of 3 ± 1 µg NH3 m-3 is likely to exceed the empirical Critical Load for N deposition for most forest ecosystems.

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.049

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > BG02 Recovery from acidification and eutrophication

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Billett (to November 2013)

ISSN:

0269-7491

Additional Information:

The definitive version of this paper is available at www.elsevier.com