1
|
Wang X, Daigger G, de Vries W, Kroeze C, Yang M, Ren NQ, Liu J, Butler D. Impact hotspots of reduced nutrient discharge shift across the globe with population and dietary changes. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2627. [PMID: 31201305 PMCID: PMC6570658 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10445-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Reducing nutrient discharge from wastewater is essential to mitigating aquatic eutrophication; however, energy- and chemicals-intensive nutrient removal processes, accompanied with the emissions of airborne contaminants, can create other, unexpected, environmental consequences. Implementing mitigation strategies requires a complete understanding of the effects of nutrient control practices, given spatial and temporal variations. Here we simulate the environmental impacts of reducing nutrient discharge from domestic wastewater in 173 countries during 1990-2050. We find that improvements in wastewater infrastructure achieve a large-scale decline in nutrient input to surface waters, but this is causing detrimental effects on the atmosphere and the broader environment. Population size and dietary protein intake have the most significant effects over all the impacts arising from reduction of wastewater nutrients. Wastewater-related impact hotspots are also shifting from Asia to Africa, suggesting a need for interventions in such countries, mostly with growing populations, rising dietary intake, rapid urbanisation, and inadequate sanitation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085, Beijing, China.
- Centre for Water Systems, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QF, United Kingdom.
| | - Glen Daigger
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, United States
| | - Wim de Vries
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AA, Wageningen, Netherlands
- Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AA, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Carolien Kroeze
- Water Systems and Global Change Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AA, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Min Yang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Nan-Qi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150090, Harbin, China
| | - Junxin Liu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - David Butler
- Centre for Water Systems, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QF, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|