Abating ammonia is more cost-effective than nitrogen oxides for mitigating PM <sub>2.5</sub> air pollution
Baojing Gu, Lin Zhang, Rita Van Dingenen, Massimo Vieno, Hans JM. van Grinsven, Xiuming Zhang, Shaohui Zhang, Youfan Chen, Sitong Wang, Chenchen Ren, Shilpa Rao, Mike Holland, Wilfried Winiwarter, Deli Chen, Jianming Xu, Mark A. Sutton
Abstract
Little things matter Particulate air pollution 2.5 micrometers or smaller in size (PM2.5) is a major cause of human mortality, and controlling its production is a health policy priority. Nitrogen oxides are an important precursor of PM2.5 and have been a focus of pollution control programs. However, Gu et al . now show that abating ammonia emissions is also an important component of PM2.5 reduction, and the societal benefits of abatement greatly outweigh the costs (see the Perspective by Erisman). Reducing ammonia emissions thus would be a cost-effective complement to nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide controls. —HJS