Environmental impacts of nitrogen emissions in China and the role of policies in emission reduction.

Atmospheric reactive nitrogen (N_r) has been a cause of serious environmental pollution in China. Historically, China used too little N_r in its agriculture to feed its population. However, with the rapid increase in N fertilizer use for food production and fossil fuel consumption for energy supply over the last four decades, increasing gaseous N_r species (e.g. NH₃ and NO_x) have been emitted to the atmosphere and then deposited as wet and dry deposition, with adverse impacts on air, water and soil quality as well as plant biodiversity and human health. This paper reviews the issues associated with this in a holistic way. The emissions, deposition, impacts, actions and regulations for the mitigation of atmospheric N_r are discussed systematically. Both NH₃ and NO_x make major contributions to environmental pollution but especially to the formation of secondary fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), which impacts human health and light scattering (haze). In addition, atmospheric deposition of NH₃ and NO_x causes adverse impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems due to acidification and eutrophication. Regulations and practices introduced by China that meet the urgent need to reduce N_r emissions are explained and resulting effects on emissions are discussed. Recommendations for improving future N management for achieving 'win-win' outcomes for Chinese agricultural production and food supply, and human and environmental health, are described. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Air quality, past present and future'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]