Stringent government regulations protect workers and consumers from health risks they may be exposed to (such as toxic dust, radiation and fumes).
Additionally, many fertilizer companies have established their own codes of conduct to reinforce safety. These include SHE (Safety, Health and Environment) management procedures and HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) studies.
Most countries that manufacture fertilizers have introduced regulatory initiatives to reinforce safety over the years:
Micronutrients are those elements that we require in very small quantities for a variety of biological functions. Micronutrients include vitamins and trace elements.
Micronutrient fertilization can enhance the presence of non-nutritive health-promoting factors like anti-oxidants in crops. One of the challenges related to micronutrient intake is the relatively small margin of error between beneficial and toxic application rates.
Current research cannot attest of any health-promoting elements in organic farming vis-à-vis conventional farming. Food grown with manufactured fertilizers is safe, healthy and nutritious.
Integrated plant nutrient management – which entails the complementary use of organic sources of nutrients and manufactured fertilizers – is the optimal solution according to agronomists. Organic sources of nutrients have both advantages and disadvantages. Appropriate management is necessary to manage the associated health risks caused by the accumulation of heavy metals and bacteria in the soil.
Manufactured fertilizers, animal manures, bio solids and recycled industrial waste may all contain heavy metal impurities. These can accumulate in the soil since they are not subject to chemical decomposition. Cadmium is the metal of greatest concern because of potential adverse effects on the kidneys, bones. However, there is no conclusive evidence to date of adverse effects on human health from the use of phosphate fertilizers. This has been acknowledged in risk assessments carried out by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE).
Efforts to manage the presence of heavy metals in crop nutrients generally concern arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). The presence of these metals is regulated either as a ratio of the target nutrient (phosphate or a defined micronutrient) or with regard to total application over a specified period of time.
Minimizing the transfer of heavy metals from soil into the food chain is possible through appropriate agricultural management practices. These include controlling soil salinity, acidity and preventing iron and calcium deficiencies in the cultivated crops. Finally, plants that do absorb heavy metals can be used to remediate contaminated soils, but it is important that the plants then be disposed of in ways that ensure the heavy metals will not enter the food chain.
Agriculture has to sustain agricultural biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by agriculture and to mitigate the negative impacts of agricultural systems and practices on biodiversity.
The fertilizer industry contributes to protecting biodiversity by increasing yields on existing arable land preserving further encroachment on wild habitats. The industry also promotes nutrient stewardship to promote appropriate fertilizer use and mitigate the environmental impact of fertilizer use by farmers.
Increasing agricultural efficiency on existing arable land is critical for protecting biodiversity while protecting food security.
Additionally, many fertilizer companies have established their own codes of conduct to reinforce safety. These include SHE (Safety, Health and Environment) management procedures and HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) studies.
Most countries that manufacture fertilizers have introduced regulatory initiatives to reinforce safety over the years:
- The United States has adopted the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in 1970. The resulting annual US benchmarking index compares the safety performance of the different fertilizer manufacturers.
Fertilizers provide micronutrients to plants and people to improve nutrition
Micronutrients are those elements that we require in very small quantities for a variety of biological functions. Micronutrients include vitamins and trace elements.
Micronutrient fertilization can enhance the presence of non-nutritive health-promoting factors like anti-oxidants in crops. One of the challenges related to micronutrient intake is the relatively small margin of error between beneficial and toxic application rates.
Organic sources of nutrients are not more nutritious
Current research cannot attest of any health-promoting elements in organic farming vis-à-vis conventional farming. Food grown with manufactured fertilizers is safe, healthy and nutritious.
Integrated plant nutrient management – which entails the complementary use of organic sources of nutrients and manufactured fertilizers – is the optimal solution according to agronomists. Organic sources of nutrients have both advantages and disadvantages. Appropriate management is necessary to manage the associated health risks caused by the accumulation of heavy metals and bacteria in the soil.
Heavy metals in fertilizers
Manufactured fertilizers, animal manures, bio solids and recycled industrial waste may all contain heavy metal impurities. These can accumulate in the soil since they are not subject to chemical decomposition. Cadmium is the metal of greatest concern because of potential adverse effects on the kidneys, bones. However, there is no conclusive evidence to date of adverse effects on human health from the use of phosphate fertilizers. This has been acknowledged in risk assessments carried out by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE).
Efforts to manage the presence of heavy metals in crop nutrients generally concern arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). The presence of these metals is regulated either as a ratio of the target nutrient (phosphate or a defined micronutrient) or with regard to total application over a specified period of time.
Minimizing the transfer of heavy metals from soil into the food chain is possible through appropriate agricultural management practices. These include controlling soil salinity, acidity and preventing iron and calcium deficiencies in the cultivated crops. Finally, plants that do absorb heavy metals can be used to remediate contaminated soils, but it is important that the plants then be disposed of in ways that ensure the heavy metals will not enter the food chain.
Agriculture has to sustain agricultural biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by agriculture and to mitigate the negative impacts of agricultural systems and practices on biodiversity.
The fertilizer industry contributes to protecting biodiversity by increasing yields on existing arable land preserving further encroachment on wild habitats. The industry also promotes nutrient stewardship to promote appropriate fertilizer use and mitigate the environmental impact of fertilizer use by farmers.
Increasing agricultural efficiency on existing arable land is critical for protecting biodiversity while protecting food security.