Ammonia, anhydrous

Monitoring data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

monitoring data

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Summary of monitoring data listed in the Environment Canada Review

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

secondary source

Title:

Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Priority Substances List II: Supporting Document for Ammonia in the Aquatic Environment.

Author:

Constable, M., Jensen, F., McLeron, J., Craig, G., Moore, D.

Year:

1999

Bibliographic source:

Draft, Unpublished Version. Government of Canada, Environment Canada

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The SIDS summarises the above paper giving monitoring data for air, soil, groundwater and surfacewater.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Type of measurement:

background concentration

Media:

other: air, soil, groundwater and surfacewater.

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Ammonia, anhydrous

EC Number:

231-635-3

EC Name:

Ammonia, anhydrous

Cas Number:

7664-41-7

Molecular formula:

H3N

IUPAC Name:

ammonia

Details on test material:

Ammonia

Study design

Details on sampling:

No information available

Results and discussion

Concentration

Concentration 1

Location:

worldwide

Substance or metabolite:

substance

Conc.:

20 pg/m³ air

Remarks on result:

other: atmospheric worldwide mean levels

Concentration 2

Location:

worldwide nonurban sites

Substance or metabolite:

substance

Conc.:

4 - 5 pg/m³ air

Remarks on result:

other: atmospheric worldwide mean levels

Concentration 3

Location:

areas close to point sources (e.g. large animal feedlots or industrial sites)

Substance or metabolite:

substance

Conc.:

> 200 pg/m³ air

Remarks on result:

other: local atmospheric levels

Concentration 4

Location:

soil

Substance or metabolite:

substance

Conc.:

< 1 other: mg/kg

Remarks on result:

other: natural levels

Concentration 5

Country:

Canada

Location:

Canadian surface waters

Substance or metabolite:

substance

Conc.:

0.001 - 2 mg/L

Remarks on result:

other: Environmental concentrations for total ammonia

Details on results:

See below.

Any other information on results incl. tables

Air

Atmospheric levels of ammonia in urban areas around the world are on average about 20 pg/m³. Non-urban sites have average levels of 4-5pg/m³.  Areas close to point sources (e.g., large animal feedlots or industrial sites) may have local atmospheric concentrations exceeding 200pg/m³.

Soil

Limited data are available on the concentrations of ammonia in soil. In general, natural levels in soil are low (< 1 mg/kg) because of the rapid conversion of ammonia to nitrite and nitrate by Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter, respectively. Several studies have been conducted to measure conditions in the injection zone following the field application of anhydrous ammonia (see p. 104 of cited reference). These studies commonly show in excess of 1000 mg/L of ammonia nitrogen and a pH more than 9.0 in the center of the injection zone. These effects rapidly decrease as the distance from the injection point increases, e.g., at 7 cm the ammonium concentration and pH levels are not usually above background.

Groundwater

Ammonia contamination of groundwater is not an issue as it is readily converted to positively charged ammonium ions that bind tightly to negatively charged cation exchange sites in the soil.

Surfacewater

Natural waters typically contain ammonia and ammonia compounds in concentrations below 0.1 mg/L (as nitrogen). Environmental concentrations for total ammonia in Canadian surface waters range from < 0.001 mg/L to 2.00 mg/L. Extensive elaboration of these data is found in the cited reference.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

Air

Atmospheric levels of ammonia in urban areas around the world are on average about 20pg/m³. Non-urban sites have average levels of 4-5pg/m³.  Areas close to point sources (e.g., large animal feedlots or industrial sites) may have local atmospheric concentrations exceeding 200pg/m³.

Soil

Limited data are available on the concentrations of ammonia in soil. In general, natural levels in soil are low (< 1 mg/kg) because of the rapid conversion of ammonia to nitrite and nitrate by Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter, respectively. Several studies have been conducted to measure conditions in the injection zone following the field application of anhydrous ammonia (see p. 104 of cited reference). These studies commonly show in excess of 1000 mg/L of ammonia nitrogen and a pH more than 9.0 in the center of the injection zone. These effects rapidly decrease as the distance from the injection point increases, e.g., at 7 cm the ammonium concentration and pH levels are not usually above background.

Groundwater

Ammonia contamination of groundwater is not an issue as it is readily converted to positively charged ammonium ions that bind tightly to negatively charged cation exchange sites in the soil.

Surfacewater

Natural waters typically contain ammonia and ammonia compounds in concentrations below 0.1 mg/L (as nitrogen). Environmental concentrations for total ammonia in Canadian surface waters range from < 0.001 mg/L to 2.00 mg/L. Extensive elaboration of these data is found in the cited reference.