Depending on the size of the fine dust particles, they can enter the human body through the lungs and even reach the bloodstream. How dangerous these particles are for our health depends on their chemical composition. Short-term, heavy exposure to particulate matter can cause acute symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath or asthma attacks. Long-term damage, even with low but permanent exposure, can result in cardiovascular diseases and even lung cancer. Thus, particulate matter and air pollution in general contribute significantly to the most frequent causes of death.
Initially, this sounds very positive. However, the amount of nitrogen is crucial. In agriculture, nitrogen is often used as a fertilizer to accelerate the growth of plants. If too much of fertilizer based on ammonia or pure nitrogen ends up in the environment, it can lead to excessive nutrient input - also called eutrophication. This phenomenon is particularly well known in the case of aquatic environments, where excessive nutrient supply leads to the formation of algae. However, ammonia can also harm plants directly if it is absorbed by the leaves. It can have toxic effects and lead to plants and crops dying.