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Your dogs’ turds could be more dangerous to the outdoors than you think.
That’s it for the conclusion of aScientists in Belgium release a new reportThe environmental impact of dog urine and feces. Ghent University researchers examined the chemical compositions of soil near footpaths in four different nature reservegrounds where dogs were most likely poop or pee. They found that the dirt contained dangerous levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other elements.
These two elements are often found within dog foods. They can kill certain plants and allow others to thrive, such as nettles or hogweed. These elements can also be harmful to wildlife species that rely on them for food.
The research was estimatedThe total amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and other nutrients excreted by Europe’s 87 million dogs is comparable to that produced by continents industrial agriculture and car travel.
Pieter De Frenne from Ghent University was the researcher and said that we were surprised at the high nutrient inputs dogs could provide. Dogs are often overlooked in this regard.
Researchers discovered that removing dog poop from a yard removes most of the phosphorus deposits. However, it is much more difficult to remove significant nitrogen pollution from a dog’s urine. The study also revealed that high levels in nitrogen and phosphorus can persist for up to three years even after dogs are banned from an area.
Rob Stoneman, director for landscape recovery at Wildlife Trusts, spoke to theGuardian:Nature reserves are places that are designated for nature conservation and are home to endangered species and fragile habitats. Although poo is part of nature, dog poo can cause damage to the ecology of fragile habitats. It is important that you pick up and dispose of dog poo whenever you are walking your dog. This will help protect these wild areas for future generations.
