Question

In 2009, there were approximately 6.8 billion people in the world. In order to keep up with the food demands of this large human population, farmers used fertilizers and other agricultural technologies to grow and harvest more food. How do fertilizers negatively impact the environment?

Answer 1

Fertilizers wash away and end up in rivers and lakes, causing water pollution. Also some fertilizers can have chemicals that are bad for underwater life.

Answer 2

Run-off from fertilized land increases nitrogen levels in ecosystems and encourages algal growth.