Issues

Dumped rubbish

Pollution

Peatlands are especially susceptible to pollution from physical and chemical agents. Chemical pollution, particularly increases in nitrogen and phosphorus, is a serious problem in lowland bogs and fens. Surface run-off and groundwater can carry the large range of nutrients used in intensive agriculture to these peatland areas. Not only does this damage the plant and animal life there, it can also pollute adjacent land and water resources.

Agricultural drainage and fertiliser drift during application are also major causes of peatlands pollution. Cut-over bogs and fens were once used as designated waste disposal sites, while illegal dumping of domestic and agricultural waste is still a problem on some peatland sites.

Pollution is not always visible, especially air pollution. Heavy combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and oil in industrialised nations has resulted in increasing levels of sulphur and nitrogen in the atmosphere. These elements react with water vapour to produce acid rain. Acid rain can have a major impact on the vegetation in freshwater ecosystems, especially those with high altitude and precipitation such as blanket bogs.

In Northern Ireland, atmospheric nitrogen increases towards the east. High levels of ammonia have been recorded in areas of high altitude such as the Mournes and the Antrim Plateau. Increased levels of ammonia favour plant species such as grasses at the expense of others such as Heather.