During Chhath Puja, you must have seen the pictures of huge pieces of white foam on the ghats of Yamuna. Toxic foam is the result of a number of pollutants, including ammonia. The Central Pollution Control Board monitors ammonia, which is usually present in polluted water as ammoniated nitrogen. Ammonia pollution is on the rise in Yamuna and it is already causing trouble. Last week, water supply was affected in many areas of the national capital due to ammonia pollution. But what is ammonia and how does it affect us?
Reading: Ammonia level in Yamuna likely to affect water supply in these parts of Delhi: DJB
Ammonia, when present in high concentrations, adversely affects ecosystems. Atmospheric ammonia pollutes not only the water but also the air. Not only does this contribute to haze formation, but it also causes soil acidification, which is the process of soil acidifying over time.
In water, ammonia causes eutrophication – excessive plant and algae growth – leading to a lack of oxygen in the water. As a result, it is a threat to aquatic animals that are highly dependent on dissolved oxygen in the water.
A compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, ammonia is a pungent and highly soluble substance, usually found in gaseous form. Due to its 47% solubility, ammonia is very difficult to detect and detoxify in polluted water bodies.
Industrial waste, usually generated from organic waste, including sewage, also contains ammonia. According to the CPCB, this is because the pollutant can act as an indicator of the rising pollution level of the Yamuna. When ammonia mixes with phosphorus in water, it can form a toxic froth, piles of which can be seen in the Yamuna.
Reading: Joint study team, monitoring team constituted to check toxic pollutant level in Yamuna
Since ammonia is corrosive, exposure to the pollutant can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, including the respiratory tract. Exposure to harmful concentrated amounts can cause lung damage, blindness or death while limited concentrations are enough to cause you to cough or irritate your nose and throat.
Ammonia is also a potent neurotoxin known to negatively affect the central nervous system. If ammonia reaches high concentrations in the blood, it can damage the brain, which can lead to coma or death. Ammonia pollution can damage the airways of a person’s lungs and cause respiratory failure.
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