Pollutant Information: Sodium 

About Sodium

Category: Heavy metals and base cations

Base cations such as sodium are important in the environment because deposition has an impact upon surface pH, causing an increase in alkalinity, thereby buffering or neutralizing the effects of acidity generated by sulphur and nitrogen. It is for this reason these emissions are of interest, rather than their negative impacts upon human health or ecosystems. Construction generated 33% of the UK emission in 2018, iron and steelmaking production was responsible for 24% of total emissions in that year, while domestic, industrial and power station use of coal contributed 15%. Domestic combustion of wood also contributed to 9% to the total emissions in 2018. Overall, sodium emissions have decreased by 75% since 1990.

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Time series graph