Phosphorus in Fresh Water and the Marine Environment

Book excerpt: Phosphorus in Fresh Water and the Marine Environment investigates sources of phosphorus in fresh water and the marine environment and the problems it causes. The importance of phosphate precipitation as an inbuilt safety device against overproduction of algae in the oceans is discussed, along with the deposition and absorption of phosphates in sediments. The source of the phosphorus in lakes and rivers is considered in relation to population density and distribution. This book is comprised of 26 chapters and begins with a discussion on natural phosphate sources in relation to phosphate budgets, paying particular attention to eutrophication and soil erosion. The significance of man-made sources of phosphorus, such as fertilizers and farming, detergents and sewage, is then examined. Subsequent chapters focus on the role of phosphorus in the growth of plants and animals in rivers, lakes, and the sea; the hydrogeochemical cycling of phosphorus; phosphorus analysis in sea water; and safety evaluation of substitutes for phosphates in detergents. The microbiology of an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant chemically treated for phosphorus removal is also explored. This monograph will be of interest to policymakers concerned with water pollution control.