Nutrient Pollution & Algae
When too much nitrogen and phosphorus enter the environment – usually from a wide range of human activities – water can become polluted. Too much nitrogen and phosphorus in the water causes algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle. Excess algae, called algal blooms, result in a myriad of negative impacts, including:
- Harm to water quality, food resources and habitats
- Severely reduced or eliminated oxygen in the water, leading to illnesses and even death in fish and other aquatic life
- Elevated toxins and bacterial growth that can make people sick if they come into contact with polluted water, consume tainted fish, or drink contaminated water.