Worldwide attention is drawn to global warming, loss of forests, water and more. But there is another threat that most are not even aware of, writes ScienceAlert. If the world continues to ignore it, it could lead to a global disaster for future generations.
We are talking about phosphorus, which is an essential building block for living organisms, used in industry and agriculture.
The problem is that phosphorus in nature is not a renewable element. There is nothing to replace it, and there are very few areas where apatite and phosphorite are mined. The reserves of this raw material are gradually being depleted with constantly growing appetites.
A group of 40 international experts warned that if steps are not taken to preserve this important element, its supply on the planet will dry up. Research scientists published in Environmental Science & Technology.
The phosphorus crisis is becoming a real threat, for which the world is completely unprepared, experts say. There are no international regulations that limit the excessive extraction of minerals.
Reducing consumption and finding ways to recycle may be the key to solving the crisis, the researchers say. This is especially true for developing countries, experts emphasize. Today, India and China account for 45% of world phosphorus consumption.
The demand for phosphorus is constantly growing, but the culture of its consumption has not changed. For example, fertilizers in the fields get into rivers, then into the seas and oceans, contributing to their acidification and the death of sea creatures. But if you build recirculation systems, the same phosphorus can be used up to 46 times, scientists give an example.
Anna Lysenko
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