Fertilizer Pollution Fertilizers are very commonly used in all types of farms and facilities, but they strongly affect water pollution and can be a major problem. Whether fertilizers are organic or artificial, if they enter aquatic ecosystems they can cause very big problems. Fertilizers will cause an algae bloom, which can later cause dead zones. Dead zones are spots where large algae blooms have occurred and there are very few animals in the marine zone. Fertilizer pollution interacts with economic and political issues, and many things need to be done to help solve the problem. When fertilizers are used, rainwater washes them, and as they evaporate, they blend with the rainwater. The fertilizer runoff then ends up in the water and causes major problems. The main problem is that fertilizers will end up in places like lakes and rivers, which can be a big problem if there is a marine ecosystem. When fertilizers get into the water, they cause something called an algae bloom, where all the algae bloom and grow very quickly to the surface of the water. This process where fertilizers get into the water is called eutrophication and it darkens and clouds all the water, not to mention problems with bad odors in the water. Darkened water reduces algae and plants perform photosynthesis, which means less oxygen is produced. Finally, when the algae blooms die, which happens rapidly, microorganisms feed on the algae, which greatly reduces oxygen for other animals underwater, resulting in the death of many fish. Fertilizers are strong pollutants, but there are some solutions that can reduce pollution. The main solution, which won't eliminate all pollutants, but... middle of paper... will revive the Earth more than help your lawn. (July 20, 2009). Scientific American Global RSS. Retrieved May 25, 2014, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-fertilizers-harm-earth/Managing fertilizers to reduce environmental problems. (n.d.). Manage fertilizers to reduce environmental problems. Retrieved May 25, 2014, from http://www.agroservicesinternational.com/Environment/Solutions.htmlMoll, E. (n.d.). Fertilizers as pollutants. Home guides. Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/fertilizers-pollutants-78452.htmlMuir, P. (2012, October 29). 1. EUTROPHICATION. 1. EUTROPHICATION. Retrieved May 25, 2014, from http://people.oregonstate.edu/~muirp/eutrophi.htmSolutions to Nutrient runoff. (n.d.). Mission 2015: Solutions for Nutrient Pollution. Retrieved May 25, 2014, from http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2015/2015/solutions_nutrient_runoff.html