Agricultural pollution

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Agricultural pollution refers to biotic and abiotic byproducts of farming practices that result in contamination or degradation of the environment and surrounding ecosystems, and/or cause injury to humans and their economic interests. The pollution can come from a variety of sources, ranging from point source pollution (from a single discharge point) to more diffuse, landscape-level causes, also known as nonpoint source pollution. Management practices play a crucial role in the amount and impact of these pollutants. Management techniques range from animal management and housing to the spread of pesticides and fertilizers in global agricultural practices.
Pesticide drift

Pesticide drift occurs when spray particles are carried through the air outside of the intended treatment area. The occurrence of drift is affected by the size of aerial pesticide droplets, wind speed, and the distance between the target spray site and the actual spray nozzle. The negative impacts of pesticide spray drift can include contamination and/or damage of nearby crops, wild or domestic animals, insects including pollinators, and people. Surrounding bodies of water, such as streams and ponds, can also become contaminated, resulting in damage to fish and other wildlife.[3]
Pesticide volatilization

Pesticide volatilization, sometimes called vapor drift, occurs when pesticides enter the air and move away from the site of application after conversion from liquid into gas form. Volatilization usually occurs in wet or sandy soils in combination with windy, dry, and/or hot conditions. One way to reduce vapor drift is by fully incorporating pesticides into the soil during application.[3]
Pesticide leaching

Pesticide leaching occurs when pesticides mix with water and move through the soil, ultimately contaminating groundwater. The amount of leaching is correlated with particular soil and pesticide characteristics and the degree of rainfall and irrigation. Leaching is most likely to happen if using a water-soluble pesticide, when the soil tends to be sandy in texture, if excessive watering occurs just after pesticide application, or if the adsorption ability of the pesticide to the soil is low. Leaching may not only originate from treated fields, but also from pesticide mixing areas, pesticide application machinery washing sites, or disposal areas.[3]
Heavy metals

The major inputs of heavy metals (e.g. lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury) into agricultural systems are fertilizers, organic wastes such as manures, and industrial byproduct wastes. Biosolids applied to land must meet strict guidelines set by the US EPA to limit heavy metal contamination.[5]

Some farming techniques, such as irrigation, can lead to accumulation of selenium (Se) that occurs naturally in the soil.[6] This can result in downstream water reservoirs containing concentrations of selenium that are toxic to wildlife, livestock, and humans.[7] This process is known as the Kesterson Effect, eponymously named after a reservoir in the San Joaquin Valley (California, USA), which was declared a toxic waste dump in 1987 (see: Kesterson Reservoir).
Greenhouse gases from fecal waste

The United Nations, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) predicted that 18% of anthropogenic greenhouse gases come directly or indirectly from the worlds livestock. This report also suggested that the emissions from livestock were greater than that of the transportation sector. While livestock do currently play a role in producing greenhouse gas emissions, the estimates have been argued to be a misrepresentation. While the FAO used a life cycle assessment of animal agriculture (i.e. all aspects including emissions from growing crops for feed, transportation to slaughter, etc.), they did not apply the same assessment for the transportation sector.[12]
Biopesticides

Biopesticides are pesticides derived from natural materials (animals, plants, microorganisms, certain minerals).[13] As an alternative to traditional pesticides, biopesticides can reduce overall agricultural pollution because they are safe to handle, usually do not strongly affect beneficial invertebrates or vertebrates, and have a short residual time.[13] Some concerns exist that biopesticides may have negative impacts on populations of nontarget species, however.[14] In the United States, biopesticides are regulated by the Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD) of the United States Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) established in 1955. Because biopesticides are less harmful and have fewer environmental effects than other pesticides, the EPA does not require as much data to register their use. Many biopesticides are permitted under the National Organic Program, United States Department of Agriculture, standards for organic crop production.[13]
GMO as a tool of pollution reduction

While there may be some concerns regarding the use of GM products, it may also be the solution to some of the existing animal agriculture pollution issues. One of the main sources of pollution, particularly vitamin and mineral drift in soils, comes from a lack of digestive efficiency in animals. By improving digestive efficiency, it is possible to minimize both the cost of animal production and the environmental damage. One successful example of this technology and its potential application is the Enviropig

Agricultural Pollution
July 1st, 2010 | Author:

Agricultural pollution refers to the contaminants present in the environment as a result of agricultural practices. Most effects of agricultural pollution are felt in water environments and are caused by runoff from farms and barnyards such as ammonia, pesticides, fertilizers, oil toxins, and animal waste that make their way into bodies of water. Agricultural pollution also negatively affects the quality of air. Chemicals and byproducts from the agricultural industry are quite harmful to the natural environment and can pose a problem for humans as well. As the worlds population continues to grow at a significant rate the demand for intense agriculture will remain high, and so combating agricultural pollution will be increasingly difficult. With this in mind, several alternatives to industrial agriculture, with its polluting tendencies, have been explored and are being utilized today. Pesticides used to kill insects that feed on crops can cause much damage to the environment if used inappropriately. Excessive pesticides remain in the soil after sprayings and are washed away by rain that forces them to be absorbed into groundwater. Avoiding pesticide contamination is a tricky process only feasible through careful containment practices. The same problem exists with the use of fertilizers. Excrements produced by cattle and other barnyard animals also cause pollution. The methane released from cow flatulence is also a type of greenhouse gas making it partly responsible for global warming. Emissions from the use of fossil fuels by tractors and other farm equipment used in agriculture also contribute to air pollution. Fires, which are not uncommon on farms, can be very detrimental to the environment if fertilizer or waste products are being burnt. The problem of agricultural pollution is not simply felt in regions in farming regions. Contaminates in rivers can be carried all the way to the ocean and polluted air can be blown to other areas with denser populations. Agricultural pollution poses numerous human health problems. Chemicals that make their way into groundwater can eventually end up in water sources that are used for drinking. Blue baby syndrome, a disease that causes death in infants, is often caused by contaminated water. Pesticides released into the air and emissions from farm equipment cause difficulty breathing and a host of respiratory problems. Fertilizers, manure, waste, and ammonia that are present in water release nitrogen that reduces the amount of oxygen present resulting in the death of fish and other marine animals. While industrial agriculture is the most efficient way to produce large quantities of food, the pollution associated with it raises many environmental and health concerns. In light of this, there has been a shift to organic farming which uses more natural ways to raise crops and livestock and avoids the use of harmful chemicals. The use of alternative crops that require less fertilizer because they are adapted to the environment in which they are grown also help to reduce agricultural pollution. However, the demand for cheaper and higher quantities of food as world population steadily rises will make changes in farming methods less likely and more difficult.