ABSTRACT
Nitrogen pollution of water is mainly caused by nitrate, nitrite and ammonium ions, while the atmosphere is polluted by the oxides of nitrogen and ammonia.
The need for preservation of the quality of air and water has always been strongly expressed by society. The national and regional press recently echoed the concerns of the people for availability of drinking water in Bretagne: as per the regional nutritional requirement for drinking water, 70% of the water resources will be hypothecated by the turn of the century, if the present situation prevails. To reverse this likelihood, the European Union introduced a regulation regarding nitrates (directive of 12 December 1991, no. 91/676/CEE) to be enforced as a national mandate by the member states to protect water sources. At present, there is no similar regulation for protection of the atmosphere in France, however, unlike in the Netherlands.
