Dear Sukhvir,

First of all, not all fertilizers are harmful for human health. The hazard of fertilizers on human health and environment highly depends on the dose, types and methods of fertilizer application. On the other hand, fertilizers have been used for thousands of years, but before the wide use of synthesized chemical fertilizers, people commonly apply manure or ash. Also fertilizer application definitely boasts crop production and supply more cereal needs from the human beings. The current problems of fertilizer application are mainly on the excessive application of chemical fertilizers, unbalanced application of nutrients, and deficiency of nutrients for crop growth.

Cheers,

Ping

Dear Ms Kaur,

Your question is nicely addressed in the comments by Dr Ping Huang. Chemical fertilizers are harmful on two accounts

1. source - poor quality (containing toxic substances/elements above permissible limit)

2. use - indiscriminate use (intensity - overdose as you mentioned and frequency)

Considering the presence of contaminants even natural fertilizers (organic manures) may be harmful if applied in higher dose regularly.

Dear Kaur,

• Plants take nutrients only in inorganic form. Roots do not have sensors to distinguish between organic or inorganic sources
• Besides limited proof of increased accumulation of certain alkaloids and flavonoids, there is no scientific evidence of superiority in quality of organically grown foods
• Loss of taste is predominantly psychological – ‘Placebo’ effect 
• Nutrition factor is more controlled by genetic make-up. e.g. Yellow rice 
• Nutrient related nutrition-facts are not source specific. e.g. Zn and Fe fortification
• ‘Microbes’ and not ‘chemicals’ are major sources of food-borne diseases/ illness.  e.g. Salmonella, E. coli, Taenia soleum

Imbalance use of fertilizer, like in punjab current situation of N:P:K utilization ratio is 61:19:1, but the ideal recommendation of NPK ratio is 4:2:1. Now you can imagine the imbalance utilization of chemical fertilizers, if any thing is gone beyond the certain limit it will become dangerous/toxic for the life. If you really want to see the impact of fertilizer on soil health and plant, see the long term fertilizer experiments, in which scientist are applying the balanced fertilizers to the soil and soil become more fertile than the previous conditions in term of soil organic carbon and nutrient both. 

and ultimately soil is every thing, what is the status of soil health is in your area, the human health directly influences/impacted with that.  

Sukhvir , let  me address your excellent question .Nature  is regulate through balance , and crop raising is no exception . Despite our best efforts , still , we are not in a position to inflict balanced fertilization , meeting the nutrient demand on one hand and safeguarding the soil health resilience on the other hand , in addition without any detrimental effect on adjoining water bodies. Our main concern is the indiscriminate use of fertilizers , applied in excess of crop requirement , and when this exercise continues unabated for years , it leads to deterioration in soil health plus decline in productivity . As long as our fertilization is balanced ,  neither it will not cause any decline in productivity , nor any appreciable decline in soil health in terms of microbial load of  the soil, but any deviation from this , will surely lead to multitude of problems , not easily correctable  . Our colleagues have very ably responded to your question . Looking forward further useful discussion on the issue.

I agree with Dr Anoop. Rightly mentioned about fertilization as per crop need. In the backdrop of climatic aberration, there is need to adjust the doses of applied fertilizers. With precise long-term weather forecast (that we are almost getting now) that can be done.

Thanku everyone I agree with you  but as a Scientist we have to think about the decline in fertility status of our soil and also impact on human health. High amount of fertilizer cause a more disease in our offspring  and young and i think Dr Anoop ji no body drink a milk because high amount of urea.

Sukhvir, other scientists have given very good account of excessive or imbalanced fertilizers on soil, crop and human health. As asked by you, we can't stop the use of chemical fertilizers altogether if we want to achieve potential yield of crops. Abundant literature is available on efficient nutrient and water management, but we need to educate the farmers about balanced fertilization, need based irrigation and fertilizer application and integrated nutrient use so that nutrient losses to the ground water can be stopped. Well, for your information, urea contamination in milk is not due to urea applied to crops but the wrong practices by some milk venders when they use urea for production of synthetic milk

I agree with the good comments of Drs.Huang,Gaurav Singh and Sekhon. Continuous addition of high rates of N and P may lead to accumulation of nitrate and phosphate,respectively in soil. Nitrate leaching from soil may lead to ground water contamination and P may move to nearby surface water through erosion.So for evidences show the movement of nitrate N to well waters in farm lands nearer to villages in some/few intensively cultivated areas  in Punjab,Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu states.As the village manure dumps are also located in the village periphery the manures also contributed to high nitrate levels in groungdwaters.Also Saline waters(in Punjab) and industrial activity (in Tamilnadu) contributed to high nitrate levels.I have not come  across any study showing P accumulation in water bodies located in farm lands.Of in peri-urban areas, P content increased in sewage waters due to use of detergents containing P.

Dear Kaur,

Fertilizer is dangerous and not too useful if not properly used. It is true it increases the yield of our crops, but does not improve soil organic matter. However, we will have optimal gain from it if we:

1, apply adequate amount,

2. if we synchronize application with crop need, usually in splits,

3. if we ensure that there is gradual release particularly in sandy soils.

4. if we apply  it in integration with organic manures. 

Suffice to say that overuse of it is dangerous to our environment because it pollutes ground water and other surface water like stream and lakes.

Sukhvir , according to one guesstimate ,  mineral fertilizers are indispensable to ensuring food security for the worlds population of over 7 billion people . That dependence will be much greater in years to come by , as the population further expands and shrinks the per capita land availability , with competing demands for better  land use and  negative consequences of climate change . Therefore ,  the benefits of fertilizer use will have to be better communicated to the public at large.

According to FAO ( World Fertilizer Trends and Outlook to 2018 ), global fertilizer use is likely to rise above 200.5 million tons in 2018 , 255 higher than recorded in 2008. while world fertilizer consumption will grow by 1.8% annually  through 2018 . FAO has also developed methods to monitor crop conditions in real time , allowing for tailored decisions on how much fertilizer is needed. Precision methods of applying fertilizers , as opposed to broadcasting methods , also reduce waste and damage caused by nutrient  runoff.

Dear Sukhvir,

Let me answer your question in another way! In general, As you know from the few decades the growth of population is very high, means the demand of food automatically goings to be high. To combat the demand of food the green revolution concept has come in the society and farmers are motivated to produce more food grains any how! The aim of green revolution was increase in crop production in developing countries achieved by the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and high-yield crop varieties.

Now the artificial fertilizers,, pesticides that are used for improving the crop production are started to show their harmful impact on human body, so, we got a question like yours!

The answer is we do not have any alternative option that has capacity to replace the artificial fertilizers. Yes, we have one alternative option i.e., organic farming but we have to compromise with the rate of crop production for the sake of human health. To promote the organic farming government must have to provide the subsidy to farmer because they may not goings to adopt the organic farming. 

Regards,

Sandeep

Thanku Dr sahib

I want to believe you are referring to inorganic/chemical fertilizer in this context. Inorganic fertilizer in itself, is not harmful to humans. It is beneficial to human by meeting immediate nutrient needs of crops thus correcting soil nutrient deficiency. However, its use becomes injurious to human health when it is over-applied and without appropriate soil test to regulate its application. This leads to nutrient imbalance, increased salt uptake in plants and underground water pollution. Hence it is safer to apply chemical fertilizer only when their is a nutrient deficiency needing urgent correction after appropriate soil analysis has been done.

Fortifiers are chemicals both if they are Organic and non-organic. Fertilizers are not directly harmful to human health ( rare exceptions may exist). Instead, they affect environment where sea or water animal are contaminated with some toxic elements they have and affects humans only if these toxic elements are digested by animal and then consumed by people. On the other hand, if these fertilizers are not used efficiently, wild plant species or weeds can be highly benefitted, thus turning to sources of disease and pests. This is I think misconception that fertilizers directly affect human health, rather they first affect environment and living beings stationed there and then they indirectly harm human health by the consumption of animal. In addition, breeders try to breed plants that consume fertilizers effectively and to keep pace with the increasing global population, there is a huge need for the usage of fertilizers. 

Dear Sukhvir

The main chemical fertilizers are:

-Ammonium nitrate NH4NO3

-Urea - CH4N2O

Both provide nitrogen to the plant, more or less a kind of cocaine to grow ....

Through different microorganisms the nitrogen is converted into compounds easily assimilated by the plant but easily leached or returned to the atmosphere.

there are inhibitors of the transformation:

-In Nitrites, nitrogen supplied in the form of ammonium nitrate (eg nitrification inhibitor DMPP 3.4 (3.4 Dimetilpirazole phosphate)), which allows you to keep available nitrogen for 8 -12 weeks.

-In Gaseous nitrogen, by nitrogen supplied in the form of urea, (example: urease inhibitor), for about 2 weeks.

More than the fertilizers obtained chemically, such as ammonium nitrate and urea, in my opinion are worrying inhibitors additives.

The problem is always the same: what effects are produced by synthetic substances ingested for years, to below the thresholds TLV-TWA?

Giorgio

when you're talking about fertilizers than you're talking about plant nutrition for better yield. The problem is that fertilizers contain trace elements in a non negligible concentrations which is harmful for human. But it's a business and is a profitable.

Thanku everyone who give a values suggestion.

As mentioned above the harmful effect result from  unbalance application of fertilizers that can easily leached by irrigation water and\ or volatile in the atmosphere regardless the real demands of plants. So that the use of these fertilizers ( especially that's of  urea and ammonium nitrate)in fair amounts according to plants real demands and the use of bio stimulants as alternative choice reduced this negative effects  resulted from the use of chemical one.

S Kaur,

Would you please give me a few references that fertilizers are harmful for human health. If fertilizers are contaminated with toxic elements (for example Pb in triple super phosphate) then there is a possibility of human health problem depending on what plant parts we eat and what amounts those contaminated fertilizers were used to produce that plant parts. Plant generally follow exclusion mechanism for avoiding unwanted accumulation of undesirable elements in seeds- our food components.

A lot of nutrient elements are removed from soil because of crop production. So, to recuperate soil fertility there is no option but to apply nutrients either from organic or inorganic sources. It has to be done in balanced way- maintenance concept of fertilizer application. 

The theories of partner are correctly. Improper use of chemical fertilizers are harmful to health, however, is the production of chemical fertilizers in the service of human.

Dear Kaur,

As you know, In common usage, "fertilizer" and "plant food" are synonymous.  The term fertilizer refers to a soil amendment that guarantees the minimum percentages of nutrients.  Food for plants is the available nutrients soils. Fertilizer is a substance applied to the soil to create plant available nutrients. The problem is that when fertilizers contain high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium without other essential micro-nutrients, plants receive inadequate nutrition of other essential nutrients. That means plants require all the 13 essential nutrients to grow well and provide balanced human nutrition.  

Therefore when fertilizers are applied in excess of the requirement of crops that may be harmful for human health, e.g., if nitrogen is taken up plants in excess of the required amount. Balanced fertilization is the solution to grow healthy crops and quality produce. To satisfy crops' demand application of both organic and inorganic nutrient sources can satisfy the crops' optimal nutrient requirement.  For example, compost and manures may supply micronutrients in addition to major elements, where fertilizers lack when they are applied as NPK formulations.  

Ms. Kaur,one thing we should not forget-nobody advocates the use of only fertilizers in cropping system.One can grow legume as green manure ,inter -crop or cover crop/catch crop in crop rotations.Crop residues can be used for mulch or incorporated in soil(We have to take care of C:N ratio).Weeds  biomass can be utilized in compost preparation or for incorporation in field to return the nutrients to soil.One  can use one or more bio fertilizers depending on crops in cropping system.Composting of cattle dung and crop residues can supplement nutrients to crops.Decomposing roots,root exudates and stubbles can mobilize soil  nutrients or residual nutrients applied to previous crop /crops for the following crop use.We have to account for all the  possible nutrient contributions in cropping systems and the rest we can supply through fertilizers as efficiently as possible as suggested by colleagues in  their comments.

As long as fertilizers are applied in balanced quantity and soil fertility continues to be ideally suited for a cropping sequence , fertlilizers will never be  harmful to human beings. Infact , it is other way round , effective Soil fertility and Plant nutrition management is key to  success of agriculture , following  a combination of supply chain of nutrients into the soil. As long as , we are successfully doing it, the so called harmful effect of fertilizers will be kept at bay , Ms Kaur.

I think this question is really of great importance. 

Recently, there are many studies have been published which discuss side effects of using various types of chemicals in farming as well as in food items for all living beings. These studies point outs various types of chemicals used in various ways which are much more dangerous in future. One study point out that number of bees have reduced to half of their earlier population in a few decades. And, upto 2060 they will disappear if their rate of decrease will remain the same. Once, they will disappear then the crops will become fail to produce any grain. So, some strong steps needed to be followed else we all have to face the consequences.

Getting more in the less time is the major cause for it. Also, I think rising population and marketing concepts are responsible as well.

Yes,I agree with Dr. Anoop. If the proper amount deficient in the soil is applied based on the nutrient requirement of a particular crop, a fertilizer can't be harmful to humans. Because the amount applied as a chemical fertilizer will be available to the crop in optimal amount. The problem arises when only limited types of fertilizers are applied from year to year nutrients which are below the optimum range will be limiting to the crop because of the availability of others in excess amount. Otherwise, whether organic or inorganic sources, nutrients are taken by plants in the same form and reduced within plants to the same substances. For instance, nitrogen is taken by plants as NO3 and NH4, then NO3 is reduced to nitrite and nitrite  to ammonium. So physiologically the have same function and plants have no preference to sources of nutrients in terms of uptake. 

But, as mentioned above by other researchers, what is important is that balanced nutrition of crops can be achieved through  the integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers, in addition to sustainable yield and production of quality products.  

I think that we are neglecting the negative role of pesticides on human and animal health. A number of studies have showen their cytotoxicity ang genotoxicity effects...even some studies show a connection between pesticides use and autism in houses around planted areas...even for contribution to changing sexual behaviour in animals..etc.  

http://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=ajcb.2006.65.80&org=10

Comments from Edlira Pajenga are well appreciated. Want to add few observations to it. Recent interaction with entrepreneurs revealed incidences of miscarriage in goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and poor survival of muga silk worm (Antheraea assama) in areas adjoining tea plantation, which are known for regular consumption of pesticides.

Thanks a lot everyone. Research gate is very good platform. Thanku Dr Anoop ji.

Thank you Sukhvirji..