Science Stats Ecosystems

Humans are overloading the world’s freshwater bodies with phosphorus

Poorly treated sewage and fertilizer runoff are main sources of the nutrient

algal bloom

FEELING GREEN  Freshwater bodies on more than a third of Earth’s land area (excluding Antarctica) are maxed out on phosphorus, which can help create algal blooms such as this one.

Felix Andrews (Floybix)/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

By Carolyn Gramling

- More than 2 years ago

Human activities are driving phosphorus levels in the world’s lakes, rivers and other freshwater bodies to a critical point.