WHICH POLICIES CAN STOP LARGE-SCALE EUTROPHICATION

During a few decades, many fresh and marine water areas have been seri ously affected by eutrophication, due to increasing discharges of phos phorus (P) and nitrogen (N) from modern society. The aim of this paper is to discuss the policies that are used and have been suggested to r educe eutrophication, and the factors counteracting these efforts. Pol icy options to reduce the fluxes of nutrients from point and non-point sources are summarized. A number of processes and mechanisms countera ct the control measures taken so far, namely: the growing world popula tion, the increasing urbanization, the intensive land independent anim al production, the over-consumption of N and P, the emissions of N to the atmosphere, and the losses of P from P-enriched sediments. It is c oncluded that the driving force for eutrophication, the losses of nutr ients from food production, organic waste, sewage, sludge and ashes ca n be expected to increase during the coming decades, as the world popu lation continues to grow. Strong policies are needed to promote birth control, and to stop over-consumption of N (animal protein) and unnece ssary intake of P (food additives). There is a number of barriers to o vercome to reduce large-scale eutrophication, but also a lot of space for new policies and innovations. (C) 1998 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.