Ammonia (total): Environmental effects
Description
Nitrogen is essential for all forms of life, and ammonia is one of the many forms that nitrogen exists in the environment. At high levels of ammonia, toxic effects can be observed. These may include the death of animals, birds, fish and death or low growth rate in plants. Ammonia (total) refers to the sum of ammonia (NH3) and the ionised form (NH4+). The toxicity is due to the presence of NH3, which increases in concentration with increasing pH levels.
Therefore ammonia is more toxic in more alkaline waters. It is also more toxic under decreased oxygen concentrations. Under normal conditions (temperature and pH), ammonia has moderate toxicity to aquatic life. The short term effects of total ammonia in plants, birds and land animals are not fully known.
Long term effects may include shortened lifespan, reproductive problems, lowered fertility, and changes in appearance or behaviour. These may be seen long after the first exposure to ammonia. Under normal temperature and pH conditions, ammonia has moderate long term toxicity to aquatic
Entering the environment
Ammonia occurs naturally in the environment, and is present in air, soil, water, plants and animals. Bacteria in human and animal intestines can produce ammonia. Large concentrations of ammonia can be transported by a number of pathways, by air, water, soil, plants and animals.
Where it ends up
Ammonia is rapidly taken up by plants, bacteria and animals. It is recycled naturally, and nature has many ways of incorporating and transforming ammonia. It does not bioaccumulate in the food chain, but is a nutrient for plants and bacteria.
Environmental guidelines
In 2000, the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) and the Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ) established trigger levels of 320-500 micrograms of ammonia per litre of water.
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