ISSUE 29: Does the production of livestock contribute 50% of all ammonia emissions into the atmosphere ?
RESPONSE: Generally YES. Ammonia is a reduced form of nitrogen, which is common to living organisms. Much nitrogen in the form of plant proteins is used to feed animals. Part of this protein nitrogen is converted to meat, milk and eggs. The remaining nitrogen is excreted by the animal as manure and urine which release ammonia. Most world-wide efforts at nitrogen budgets assign animals (chickens, pigs, turkeys, cattle) with being responsible for 40% to 60% of atmospheric ammonia emissions. Researchers recently presented evidence that cars may be the main source of haze-inducing ammonia, rather than livestock, as previously thought. The findings were presented at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Washington, DC by a senior scientist at the Oak Crest Institute of Science in California.In a study of 4,500 vehicles, researchers found unexpectedly high levels of ammonia in the exhaust of gasoline-powered cars. They estimate that cars are adding twice as much ammonia to
