π Human activity overloads coastal waterways with nitrogen
A new study found that human activity adds more nitrogen than all natural sources combined in about a quarter of the world's coastal waterways. This massive nutrient overload is especially intense in the Gulf of Mexico, where agriculture and wastewater play a big role. The research, published in Global Biogeochemical Cycles, details how runoff and emissions reshape marine nutrient balances globally. Excessive nitrogen triggers algal blooms and creates oxygen-depleted dead zones harmful to marine life. Targeted pollution cuts are suggested to improve coastal health and support billions of people. π