University of the people ENVS 1301: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Written Assignment Unit 4 Introduction For this assignment, I decided to choose phosphorus and its material cycle. Firstly, let me introduce this element. There is not much phosphorus on Earth (only about 0.1 percent of the Earth's crust is phosphorus), it is an essential nutrient for all life forms on our planet. According to Ruttenberg, phosphorus is a vital nutrient for plants and animals, which limiting nutrient for aquatic organisms and structures elements of important life-sustaining molecules which are quite prevalent in the biosphere. (Ruttenberg, 2003). Phosphorus does not access the atmosphere, remaining chiefly on land and in rock and soil minerals. In-depth look Phosphorus cycles between …show more content…
When the animal dies, its remains are decomposed and the constituent ions are released into the soil, after which they are taken up by plants. Animals consuming these plants gain the phosphorus again, and the cycle continues. For human and animals, phosphates are essential components of DNA, fat molecules of the cell membranes and are also a component of energy depositing molecules like the ATP and ADP. Phosphorus is also a building block of certain parts like bones and teeth (Ruttenberg, 2003). Most of the phosphorus that is mined is used to make fertilizers. Humans influence the phosphorus cycle largely by the use of fertilizers and raising livestock, particularly hogs. If levels of phosphorus are too high, the excess of plant nutrients serves to drive the disproportionate growth of algae. Nevertheless, these algae die or form algae blooms, which are toxic to the plants and animals in the ecosystem. (Emsley, 1980) With regards to phosphorus and agriculture, the most considerable impacts that I make happened when I purchase pork. By consuming its meat I am supporting the increase of hog livestock and as a results continuation of wrecking
what help create all the living things we see everyday. Lipids are found in all membranes, mainly
Mutations within the liver/bone/kidney alkaline phosphatase gene (ALPL) that encodes for tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) inhibits the mineralization of bone by causing a deficiency of TNAP (Mornet 2008). Regularly, TNAP is dephosphorylated and the inorganic phosphate that is knocked off is used for hydroxyapatite crystallization. If inorganic pyrophosphates (PPi), which are formed when ATP is hydrolyzed into AMP, are not dephosphorylated by TNAP, then hydroxyapatite deposition is inhibited (Mornet 2008).
We believe that there are three possibilities why phosphate levels are really high at Creepy Pond. One
Arsenic is the 20th most common element in the earth’s crust and can be found naturally in our environment. There is around 0.006 to 0.03 ppm or arsenic distributed in seawater, and 20 ppm of arsenic in soil (before pesticides). Every human will ingest about 0.5 to 1 mg of arsenic in a day from food and water, because arsenic is present in higher quantities in se...
Review the effects of arsenic as a soil pollutant on human health. You need to consider the major sources of arsenic (both natural & man-made), pathways for uptake by people and the impacts on human health.
Scheepers, R. & Ozendaal, A. 1995, "Phosphorus as a typological and mineralization potential indicator: the Cape Granite Suite of the Saldania belt as a case study", Journal of African Earth Sciences, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 127-140.
The usual target of beneficiation process is 35% P2O5 from 28%. The use phosphate rock as fertilizer is limited, since the solubility of it in acidic soil is a deciding factor. The rock needs to undergo a mineralogical test to ascertain the suitability depending on its chemical composition and structure. The carbonate radical contributes to P2O5 reactivity when it is directly applied on the rock.
Conclusion: The phosphate levels in rainwater runoff in the environment can be very harmful to humans, but not plants. Phosphate helps the plants, grass and algae grow and certain plants and algae are harmful. But at the same time, excess phosphate means excess algae and excess algae lowers the dissolved oxygen levels and if the dissolved oxygen levels are lowered, many fish and aquatic animals cannot survive, leaving the environment with plants but no animals.
is a very useful nutrient for human life forms as it is the source for
Phosphorus is usually present in natural waters as phosphate(Mcwelsh and Raintree, 1998). Phosphates are present in fertilizers and laundry detergents and can enter the water from agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and sewage discharge (Outwater,1996) . Phosphates, like nitrates, are plant nutrients (Phosphates, 1997). When too much phosphate enters a water, plant growth flourishes (Phosphates). Phosphates also stimulate the growth of algae which can result in an algae bloom(World Book Encyclopedia,1999). . Algae blooms are easily recognized as layers of green slime, and can eventually cover the water's surface. As the plants and algae grow, they choke out other organisms. These large plant populations produce oxygen in the upper layers of the water but when the plants die and fall to the bottom, they are decomposed by bacteria which use a lot of the dissolved oxygen in the lower layers (Phosphates). Bodies of water with high levels of phosphates usually have high biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels due to the bacteria consuming the organic plant waste and subsequent low dissolved oxygen levels(Hooper,1998).
Small amounts of nitrate and phosphate are also dissolved: these result from decay of plant and animal matter.
I am particularly surprised how the agricultural industry inflicts these problems on themselves, by excessive use of sewage systems and pollutants which find their way to local rivers [Fig 1.]. The trophic state (i.e. the natural nutrition factors) and biodiversity of lakes and rivers are greatly effected by the main nutrients involved, nitrates and phosphates. The transition occurs mainly between a mesotropic state, with an average biological productivity to a eutrophic state where there is a larger production of organisms due to high nutrient concentrations. Tropical reservoirs in particular often become eutrophic.
The most widely used fertilizer is pure ammonia. It is kept in liquid form under pressure in steel tanks. Three solid nitrogen fertilizers are ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium phosphate. Two common phosphorus fertilizers are superphosphate and triple superphosphate. Phosphorous fertilizer is made by treating phosphate rock with sulfuric acid. Potassium sulfate and potassium nitrate are used on crops that are harmed by chlorides.
...eochemical cycles. By increasing the amount of crops that are removed from the soil and the subsequent soil erosion, phosphorus levels in the soil have dropped. The phosphorus lost from the soils travels to aquatic ecosystems which then can cause massive algal blooms. The increased use of nitrogen based fertilizers has also altered that cycle. The fertilizers add high levels of nitrates to the soil, and in natural ecosystems, nitrates will undergo denitrification and be returned as atmospheric nitrogen. This is not the case because the nitrate levels exceed the levels of denitrification that bacteria can handle. Additionally, much of the denitrifying bacteria is found in marshes and wetlands, which are currently being destroyed at incredible rates. In some areas, the excess nitrate has made it into the ground water system and contaminated the drinking water system.
Fertilizers are at the forefront of nutrient management because they affect the plants ability to grow and produce seeds. Fertilizers are defined as a chemical or natural substance added to soil to increase the fertility. Many crucial plants nutrients are added to soil through fertilizers. Some of the most crucial nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur. Stout (1990) explains, “nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium have traditionally been the main concern for the fertilizer energy and are known as primary nutrients”(pg. 153). Nitrogen is the most important of these as it directly affects the plants ability to grow, as plants are dependent on the amount of nitrogen in the soil. Phosphorus is a vital so the plant can convert the suns energy into food, feed, and fiber and as well plays a key role of photosynthesis. Potassium...