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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

|June 16, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces 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.

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Area of Science:

Environmental Economics
Ecosystem Services
Biogeochemical Cycles

Background:

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

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and apply an economic nitrogen cascade (ENC) model to estimate the economic impacts of nitrogen fluxes.
To identify the most cost-effective strategies for mitigating nitrogen pollution by considering cascading economic damages.

Main Methods:

Constructed an economic nitrogen cascade (ENC) model using economic data from the Chesapeake Bay basin.
Estimated benefits of damage avoided and costs of mitigation for nitrogen fluxes.
Analyzed the cascading costs associated with each stage of the nitrogen cascade.

Main Results:

A single ton of nitrogen can cause cascading economic damages across atmospheric, terrestrial, aquatic, and coastal ecosystems.
Mitigating nitrogen from combustion sources is the most cost-effective strategy, yielding the greatest benefits for human health and ecosystems.
The analysis highlights the importance of considering all affected ecosystems when evaluating mitigation benefits.

Conclusions:

The economic nitrogen cascade (ENC) model provides a framework for assessing the financial implications of nitrogen pollution.
Policy decisions should prioritize nitrogen mitigation from combustion sources to maximize cost-effectiveness and environmental quality.
Integrated approaches considering cascading damages are essential for optimizing environmental policy.