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UNEP Year Book: Phosphorus and plastic pollute

world's oceansWednesday, 23 February 2011 06:57

Enormous amounts of the fertiliser phosphorus are discharged into oceans due to inefficiencies in farming and a

failure to recycle wastewater, the United Nations Environment Programme warns in its 2011 Year Bookreleased today.

An emerging concern over plastics pollution of the oceans is identified in the Year Bookas persistent, bio-

accumulating and toxic substances associated with plastic marine waste.

Research indicates that tiny pieces ofplastic are adsorbing and concentrating from the seawater and sediments

chemicals from polychlorinated biphenols, PCBs, to the pesticide DDT.

Plastic pollution in the estuary de Santos, Sao Vicente, Brazil. (Photo: Instituto EcoFaxina)

Many of these pollutants, including PCBs, cause chronic effects such as endocrine disruption, mutagenicity and

carcinogenicity, states the 2011 Year Book.

UNEP released the Year Book 2011ahead of the annual gathering of the world's environment ministers that opens on

Monday in Nairobi.

Experts cited in the book say that both phosphorus discharge and new concerns over plastics underline the need for

better management of the world's wastes and improved patterns of consumption and production.

The phosphorus and marine plastics stories bring into sharp focus the urgent need to bridge scientific gaps but also

to catalyse a global transition to a resource-efficient green economy in order to realise sustainable development and

address poverty, said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

"Whether it is phosphorus, plastics or any one of the myriad of challenges facing the modern world, there are clearly

inordinate opportunities to generate new kinds of employment and new kinds of more efficient industries," Steiner said.

Demand for phosphorus has soared during the 20th century, and the Year Book 2011highlighted the nutrient in part

because of the heated debate over whether or not finite reserves of phosphate rock will soon run out.

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Floods in Queensland, Australia in December and January caused heavy sediment flows to the ocean. (Image: NASA,

Norman Kuring, Ocean Color Web)

An estimated 35 countries produce phosphate rock. The top 10 countries with the highest reserves are: Algeria, China,

Israel, Jordan, Russia, South Africa, Syria and the United States.

New phosphate mines have been commissioned in countries such as Australia, Peru and Saudi Arabia and countries

and companies are looking further afield, even to the seabed off the coast of Namibia.

The Year Book recommends a global phosphorus assessment to more precisely map phosphorus flows in the

environment and predict levels of economically viable reserves.

While there are commercially exploitable amounts of phosphate rock in several countries, those with no domestic

reserves could be particularly vulnerable in the case of global shortfalls, the Year Booknotes.

There is an enormous opportunity to recover phosphorus by recyling wastewater, the Year Bookadvises. Up to 70

percent of this water is laden with nutrients and fertilisers such as phosphorus, which currently is discharged untreated

into rivers and coastal areas.

Heavy doses of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen increase the risk of harmful algal blooms, which can

prompt the closure of fisheries and swimming areas.

Other measures to reduce discharges include cutting erosion and the loss of topsoil where large quantities of

phosphorus are associated with soil particles and excess fertilisers are stored after application.

The Year Book advises that further research is needed on the way phosphorus travels through the environment to

maximise its use in agriculture and livestock production and cut waste, while reducing environmental impacts on rivers

and oceans.

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