Fertilizers used on crops contribute to pollution. Aside from the livestock in mass agriculture, crops also play a part in polluting the environment. It would seem next to impossible for plants to harm the environment and that is true. However, the manner by which they are taken care of is what’s to be blamed. When crops are given synthetic fertilizer, they are not able to use everything they are given. Whatever they don’t use end up being absorbed by the surrounding soil or evaporate into the air and cause acid rain and produce greenhouse gas.

The chemicals can also seep into groundwater or get to bodies of water as runoffs, making water in the surrounding areas unfit for consumption. Apart from the humans in the area, these effects on the environment also harm other plants and animals because of what is happening around them. One of the major effects on the environment of mass agriculture is rampant algae growth in bodies of water due to nitrogen in the fertilizers. Too much algae suffocates other organisms in the water, leading to their drastic decline in numbers. This is of course not a great benefit for our community. See this site to learn more.

Antibiotics are absorbed by plants. If you think that going natural and using manure from animals as fertilizer is a great idea, think twice. If you’re getting manure from an animal that’s been given antibiotics, traces of the antibiotics will find their way into the manure and thus will be absorbed by plants. This is the reason why even vegans or those who opt for organic food still end up with antibiotics in their systems. And with continued consumption of these antibiotic-laden plants, illness and disease are just beyond the horizon.

Animal feeding operations contribute to pollution. The US government tries to promote the consumption of milk, eggs, and meat, encouraging the expansion of feedlots and hog factories to cater to the demands of the American consumers. Large scale operations for animal feeding contributes to water, air, and soil pollution, with beef, pork, and poultry industries producing at least six times more waste compared to what humans throw out. Waste from animals contain pathogens, nitrogen, phosphorus and veterinary medication with antibiotics and hormones, and these pollute soil and water through runoffs while gas emissions pollute the air.

This post was graciously contributed by Terry Frank. Although he works online part time, his day job website can be found at www.nissanaugustaga.com.

Herbicides linked to neurological disorders and cancer. Many are fearful that these drugged-up animals on feedlots are like proto-animals! While not in the United States, Nanaimo in British Columbia banned the use of herbicides on lawns because of the growing evidence pointing to the association between herbicide use and cancers, respiratory illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders ranging from learning disability to more severe conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Herbicides for lawn use are usually the same herbicides sold to farmers, containing the same chemicals and just repackaged to be sold in bulk. Luckily, many restaurants have begun to avoid using these sources of food and instead choose more sustainable, clean crops to source their establishments.

Antibiotics in animals cause antibiotic-resistant bacteria to develop: Known as MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, this bacteria causes infections that are difficult to treat, mostly manifesting in people who have weak immune systems. The bacteria has not evolved to become easily transmissible but it is mostly detected in farm environments where the use of low-dose antibiotics is prevalent to prevent infections and promote growth in animals.

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Mass agriculture may be keeping up with the demands of the country but it is not without its effects, taking toll on the environment leading some to question how long the United States can keep this up until it blows up in their face. Some of the negative effects of mass agriculture in the United States include:

Genital feminization of male animals and humans. The industrial pesticides used for mass agriculture may be effective in making plants weather through anything but the chemicals they use mimics or stimulates the production of estrogen in the body. increased estrogen activity has been linked, or at least suspected to be linked, to genital abnormalities and lower sperm counts in male animals and humans.

This post has been contributed by Adriana Menendez, chief contributor at thecarouselhalifax.com and idollashinfo.com.