SOUTH ASIAN NITROGEN HUB” RESEARCH PROJECT
08, Jan 2019
Prelims level :
Mains level :
GS 3: Science & Technology
Why in news?
The British Government has announced a research project- South Asian Nitrogen Hub to study nitrogen pollution in India and South Asia.
Highlights:
- The project led by UK’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology will partner with 50 organisations from the UK and South Asia.
- The project aims to study the impact of different forms of nitrogen pollution, particularly looking at nitrogen in agriculture in eight countries of South Asia which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives.
Nitrogen Pollution:
- Pollutant Gases like ammonia (NH3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are produced from chemical fertilizers, livestock manure, and burning fossil fuels and is connected to air pollution, biodiversity loss, the pollution of rivers and seas, ozone depletion, health, economy and livelihoods. Gases like Ammonia and nitrogen dioxide can aggravate respiratory and heart conditions.
- Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas that depletes the ozone layer. Nitrate from chemical fertilisers, manure and industry pollutes rivers and seas, poses a health risk for humans, fish, coral and plant life.
Indian Institutions partnering for the study are:
- National Institute of Oceanography
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
- Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Aligarh Muslim University
- National Physical Laboratory
- TERI University