What is ammonia nitrogen?
Ammonia nitrogen is a common pollutant in water bodies, mainly composed of ammonia (NH₃) and ammonium ions (NH₄⁺). It is one of the important indicators for evaluating water quality. Excessively high concentrations of ammonia nitrogen can cause harm to aquatic ecosystems and human health. This article will introduce in detail the sources, hazards, detection methods and recent hot topics of ammonia nitrogen.
1. Source of ammonia nitrogen

Ammonia nitrogen mainly comes from natural processes and human activities. The following are common sources of ammonia nitrogen:
| Source type | specific source |
|---|---|
| natural source | Decomposition of animal and plant residues and release into soil |
| agricultural activities | Fertilizer application, livestock and poultry breeding wastewater |
| industrial emissions | Chemical, pharmaceutical, food processing wastewater |
| Domestic sewage | Household wastewater, urban sewage treatment plant discharge |
2. The harm of ammonia nitrogen
The harm of ammonia nitrogen to the environment and human health is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
| Harmful objects | specific impact |
|---|---|
| aquatic life | High concentrations of ammonia nitrogen can cause fish poisoning or even death |
| Eutrophication of water bodies | Ammonia nitrogen is a nutrient source for algae growth and may trigger algae blooms |
| human health | Long-term exposure to high concentrations of ammonia nitrogen may cause respiratory diseases |
| drinking water safety | Excessive ammonia nitrogen will affect the quality of drinking water |
3. Detection method of ammonia nitrogen
Currently commonly used ammonia nitrogen detection methods include the following:
| Detection method | Principle | Scope of application |
|---|---|---|
| Nessler's reagent method | Use ammonia to react with Nessler's reagent to form a yellow complex | Laboratory testing |
| salicylic acid method | Ammonia reacts with salicylic acid to form a blue compound | On-site rapid testing |
| Electrode method | Determination of ammonia concentration using an ammonia gas-sensitive electrode | Continuous online monitoring |
| Spectrophotometry | Determine absorbance at specific wavelengths | High-precision laboratory testing |
4. Recent hot topics
According to the hot content on the entire network in the past 10 days, topics related to ammonia nitrogen mainly focus on the following aspects:
| Topic Category | Specific content | heat index |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental protection policy | Many places have introduced new ammonia nitrogen emission standards | ★★★★ |
| water pollution incident | Ammonia nitrogen in a river in a certain place exceeded the standard, causing concern | ★★★☆ |
| Breeding industry governance | New technology for ammonia nitrogen treatment of livestock and poultry breeding wastewater | ★★★ |
| Scientific research progress | New ammonia nitrogen adsorption material successfully developed | ★★☆ |
5. Prevention and control measures of ammonia nitrogen pollution
For ammonia nitrogen pollution, the following prevention and control measures can be taken:
| Measure type | Specific methods |
|---|---|
| source control | Optimize the use of chemical fertilizers and improve breeding methods |
| processing technology | Biological denitrification, chemical precipitation, adsorption method |
| Monitoring and early warning | Establish water quality monitoring network and real-time early warning system |
| Policies and regulations | Strictly enforce emission standards and increase penalties |
6. Conclusion
As an important water quality indicator, ammonia nitrogen pollution cannot be ignored. By understanding the sources, hazards, and detection methods of ammonia nitrogen, we can better understand this pollutant. The recent hot topic about ammonia nitrogen also reflects the concern of all walks of life on this issue. Only by taking comprehensive prevention and control measures can we effectively control ammonia nitrogen pollution and protect our water environment.
With the improvement of environmental awareness and technological advancement, it is believed that greater breakthroughs will be made in the treatment of ammonia nitrogen pollution in the future. Everyone should start from themselves, reduce ammonia nitrogen emissions, and contribute to the protection of water resources.
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