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Ammonia's Silent Assault on Air Quality Revealed
23 Oct
Summary
- Ammonia from agriculture is a major contributor to India's PM2.5 pollution.
- Secondary pollutants, formed by chemical reactions, cause significant air quality issues.
- Cold winter temperatures exacerbate pollution by trapping gases and favoring particle formation.
Ammonia, primarily emitted from agricultural activities, is a critical factor in the declining air quality of the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). This region, home to nearly half a billion people, experiences severe pollution due to the interaction of ammonia with other pollutants.
A 2025 study highlighted that secondary pollutants, such as ammonium sulphate formed from sulphur dioxide and ammonia, account for nearly one-third of India's PM2.5 pollution. These secondary pollutants are often more significant than primary emissions from sources like vehicles and coal plants, particularly during winter.
Scientists explain that ammonia acts as a base, reacting with acids like nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide to form salts. In the IGP, an excess of this ammonia, largely from farming (80-85% share), leads to the formation of these harmful particles that settle in human lungs.
Research conducted at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, has revealed seasonal pollution patterns in the IGP. Cold winter temperatures and a compressed planetary boundary layer trap precursor gases, promoting the conversion of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants into harmful ammonium nitrate particles.
