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Related Experiment Videos

Cascading costs: an economic nitrogen cycle.

William R Moomaw1, Melissa B L Birch

  • 1Fletcher School, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA. william.moomaw@tufts.edu

Science in China. Series C, Life Sciences
|March 4, 2006
PubMed
Summary
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Why metrics matter: evaluating policy choices for reactive nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Environmental science & technology·2010

We developed an economic nitrogen cascade (ENC) model to quantify the financial impacts of nitrogen pollution. Removing nitrogen from combustion sources is most cost-effective due to significant human health and ecosystem benefits.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Economics
  • Biogeochemical Cycles
  • Ecosystem Services

Background:

  • The chemical nitrogen cycle involves reactive nitrogen cascading through ecosystems, causing environmental damage.
  • Quantifying economic impacts of nitrogen fluxes across ecosystems is crucial for effective environmental policy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To construct an economic nitrogen cascade (ENC) model mirroring the chemical nitrogen cycle.
  • To estimate the economic impacts, including avoided damages and mitigation costs, of nitrogen fluxes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized economic data from the Chesapeake Bay basin.
  • Developed a regional economic nitrogen cascade model.
  • Assessed costs and benefits associated with nitrogen mitigation at various stages.

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Main Results:

  • A single tonne of nitrogen can cause cascading economic costs across multiple ecosystems.
  • Mitigation benefits must account for damage avoided across all affected ecosystems.
  • Removing nitrogen from combustion sources is the most cost-effective strategy due to its extensive impacts.

Conclusions:

  • The economic nitrogen cascade model provides a framework for evaluating nitrogen mitigation policies.
  • Policy decisions should prioritize nitrogen sources with the greatest cascading economic and environmental impacts.
  • Targeting combustion-derived nitrogen offers the most significant return on investment for environmental quality goals.