Impact of Emerging Agricultural Contaminants on Global Warming

Abstract

There are many definitions of emerging contaminants (ECs). They are not usually new chemicals and could be substances that have stayed long in the environment with their presence and importance being recognized now. They may be chemicals or microorganisms which are not usually monitored in the environment but with known or suspected potential to cause ecological damage or adverse human effects. Some natural products and those transformed through biochemical processes from synthetic chemicals may be formed in the environment as ECs. Emerging Agricultural Contaminants are released to the environment or enter indirectly to the soil during the application of manure, fertilizers, biosolids or other solid waste materials. Once they enter the soil, they may be transported by leaching, runoff and drainage processes to water bodies. The extent of the transport is dependent on the persistence of the EC and on how it interacts with soil and air. These ECs contribute to global warming through the emissions of Greenhouse gases. The largest source of GHG emission from Agriculture is Nitrous oxide (N2O) and it accounts for 38% of the total global emission through the process of nitrification and denitrification, anthropogenic activities (use of nitrogen fertilizer, production of nitrogen-fixing crops and forages, retention of crop residues, application of managed livestock manure) which are either through direct additions and/or through indirect additions (atmospheric deposition of applied nitrogen). The natural digestive processes in ruminants otherwise known as enteric fermentation account for the key source of methane production under livestock production hence the second largest source of total agricultural emission with 34% global share and rice cultivation being the third with 11%. The three important greenhouse gases (Methane, Carbon dioxide and Nitrous oxide) are not harmful in naturally occurring quantities for their atmospheric presence helps in sustaining life on the planet when they trap heat energy near the surface of the earth. Concentration of greenhouse gases from both the natural and human factors have been increasing and contributing to Global Warming and Climate Change. Increase in greenhouse gases may cause tremendous changes to our civilization positively or negatively but the total impact is uncertain. Climate change comes as a result of a warming planet which can affect the weather adversely in many ways. So, as climate changes, extreme weather activities release severe threats on human society. Indicators of global warming include sea surface temperature, temperature over land, snow cover on hills, temperature over land and humidity. It is expected that climate change may cause more floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves and other extreme weathers activities. IPCC estimated that temp may rise from 2 to 6°C within 2021. Mitigation of greenhouse effect could be achieved through Biochemical methods on enteric fermentation, development of good environmental policies even Methanotrophs also aid in recycling the atmospheric Methane.