Why is the use of synthetic or chemical fertilizers harmful?
Synthetic fertilizers are used to ‘fertilize’ soils and are mainly derived from non-renewable fossil fuels. The extensive and excessive use of synthetic fertilizers has lead to increases in air, soil and water pollution. More specifically, the use of synthetic fertilizers has increased the amount of greenhouse gas emissions (nitrous oxide N2O) into our atmosphere, has disrupted our soil’s nutrient holding capacity and has allowed excess nutrients to runoff into our waterways resulting in algal blooms and an increase in the frequency and spatial extent to which the drinking water guidelines for nitrate (ingredient in chemical fertilizers) have been exceeded in groundwater supplies across Canada. Algal blooms lead to excessive mortality rates for fish and other aquatic organisms and high nitrate levels lead to higher health risks from the recreational use of water, but also to increased costs for the treatment of drinking water. Why is the use of synthetic or chemical pesticides harmful?
