Pollutants called NOx (nitrites of oxygen), caused by improperly tuned automobiles and power generation plants, makes great amber haze over our skies, a haze we breath every minute of the day. While proper maintenance of automobiles and newer computerized methods for air-fuel delivery systems has improved these emissions, they cannot be fully eliminated as long as we continue to burn carbon based fuels. Nitrogen in the air becomes a part of biological matter mostly through the actions of bacteria and algae in a process known as nitrogen fixation. Legume plants such as clover, alfalfa, and soybeans form nodules on the roots where nitrogen fixing bacteria take nitrogen from the air and convert it into ammonia, NH3. The ammonia is further converted by other bacteria first into nitrite ions, NO2-, and then into nitrate ions, NO3-. Plants utilize the nitrate ions as a nutrient or fertilizer for growth. Nitrogen is incorporate in many amino acids which are further reacted to make proteins. In overloading interruption in the nitrogen cycle has long range effect upsetting the biosphere. When it settles into the water, it causes the overproduction of algae which in turn consumes excessive amounts of oxygen, choking out naturally occuring plant life. This then kills lake and river beads of all their life forms.

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