Inorganic fertilizers are manufactured from recycled waste products which may contain large concentrations of hazardous chemicals, including zinc, lead, cadmium, chromium and even arsenic. These chemicals may result in harmful effects to human health or even death. For example, lead and cadmium have been linked to certain cancers, liver disease and kidney damage, while chromium has a harmful effect on the human reproductive system which may lead to infant deformity. Some studies reveal that fertilizer manufacturers use poultry farm feed waste, tannery waste, used battery cells and other materials containing toxic wastes in the production of chemical fertilizers. In addition to the toxic effects of direct contact or the ingestion of food products grown using chemical fertilizers, the pollution emitted by fertilizer manufacturing facilities and runoff from chemical fertilizers eventually finds its way into the air we breathe and our water supply. We can help you select the right product for your property, click here to get a more information.

The main ingredients in chemical fertilizers are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, all of which are needed for healthy soil and plants in some concentrations. However, nitrogen runoff from chemical fertilizers creates a number of health hazards for humans as well as creating dead zones in lakes and oceans where no plants or animals can live. Phosphate fertilizers create toxic conditions as well, with phosphate pollution so prominent that people in some areas are lobbying for legislation to regulate the use of phosphorus fertilizers. The manufacturing process and mining of phosphorus fertilizers also creates hazards as these fertilizers contain radioactive lead and polonium, causing a variety of health conditions in people who live near the plants and mines.

While chemical fertilizers provide a more rapid growth response in plants than organic fertilizers, their use may also result in long term environmental damage. Some of the harsh effects of chemical fertilizers include the depletion of essential nutrients in the soil, pollution of water supplies and contamination of food products grown using them. On the other hand, organic fertilizers replenish and improve the soil and result in healthy plants and produce. With the heightened awareness of environmental issues in recent years, the use of chemical fertilizers has diminished somewhat. However, much remains to be done to raise public awareness of the potential harmful effects of chemical fertilizers.