IMPACTS

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT

Continuous Exposure, Leaching/Contamination from Fertilizer

Applying more than the plants can use to help them grow results in damage to the environment and human health (1)Contaminated water may contain high levels of nitrates and nitrites, causing haemoglobin disorders (2)

Heavy metals such as Mercury, Lead, Cadmium and Uranium have been found in fertilizers, can cause disturbances in the kidneys, lungs and liver and cause cancer.


Ammonium Nitrate

exposure cause other health problems such as eye and skin irritationrritation, producing a burning sensation. Inhalation exposure can result in irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs.


Potassium Chloride

interferes with nerve impulses, and interrupts with virtually all bodily functions and mainly affects heart functioning. It can cause all kinds of gastric and stomach pains, dizziness, bloody diarrhoea, convulsions, headaches, mental impairments, redness or itching of the skin or eyes.


BORON

short durations exposure are associated to acute respiratory irritation, nasal irritation and significant increases in mass of nasal secretions. Prolong exposure lead to mild irritation of the eyes, throat, and nose, as well as cough and breathlessness.



CADMIUM

Ultimately enters the human tissues resulting in diseases such as trachea-bronchitis, pneumonitis, pulmonary enema, renal failure, osteoporosis, and many others. Lettuce (Latuca sativa L.), found in great quantities in countries like Brazil and others in South America, uptake Cd very easily, with an average amount of 870mg Cd/Kg (3).




REFERENCES

(1) https://eponline.com/Articles/2017/12/07/The-Hidden-Dangers-of-Chemical-Fertilizers.aspx?Page=1

(2) Kiss SA, Dombovári J, Oncsik M. Magnesium inhibits the harmful effects on plants of some toxic elements. Magnes Res. 1991 Mar;4(1):3-7.

(3) https://lettucegroup4.weebly.com/effects-on-human-health.html
Further reading:

https://amosinstitute.com/blog/the-health-impacts-of-chemical-fertilizers/
de la Monte, et al. Epidemiological Trends Strongly Suggest Exposures as Etiologic Agents in the Pathogenesis of Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis. J Alzheimers Dis. 2009; 17(3): 519–529.