Chemicals play an important role in contaminating the atmosphere or soil of the earth with toxic amount of concentrations. They act as foreign elements tat may cause disequilibrium of the resources of nature. Air pollution or the contamination of air may be polluted by what is known as Primary air Pollutants, that are direct result or consequence of the process causing pollution. These pollutants are released into the troposphere. Some primary pollutants include, oxides of nitrogen, halogen compounds, carbon monoxide, etc. we will discuss about one such chemical compound that causes pollution known as ammonia. 

Ammonia or NH₃ is a chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. The colourless compound is prominently used for a fertiliser, cleaner, fermentation, an antimicrobial agent for food products, etc. however ammonia pollution can affect in several negative ways. It is a major pollution source of nitrogen and it’s oxides. Nitrogen accumulation thus affects species composition in the biodiversity by spreading of soil pollution, acidification, and increasing susceptibly of plants to frost, pathogens etc. Grasslands and forests are highly susceptible to ammonia pollution. Ammonia also affects freshwater ecosystems through direct agricultural run-off and also has toxic effects on aquatic animals that often have thin and permeable skin surfaces. Ammonia vapours can be threatening to livestock as well. Dairy, swine and poultry livestock producers are affected through it. 

Ammonia’s impact in Asian regions have been significantly noted.Farming practices in Southern Asia often consume a huge amount of nitrogen fertilisers.  It has been noted that the region consumes more than half of the global synthetic nitrogen fertilizer and was the dominant region for livestock waste production since 2004. Excessive nitrogen in the atmosphere implies excessive ammonia in the atmosphere, resulting in severe air and water pollution in this region. [1] Due to the region being highly populated, ammonia production is high in relation to high agricultural and animal product demand. Ammonia is an important substances that can be held responsible for the formation of another toxic compound called aerosol in the atmosphere and has caused severe air pollution in East and South Asia. 

Ammonia is thus a harmful chemical substance. While a small amount of ammonia occurs in the environment through natural processes, most of it is human made and toxic as it does not get used up in the natural phenomenon of nitrogen cycle. 

Sources:

[1] https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2017GH000098

https://www.mda.state.mn.us/ecological-effects-ammonia