\u201cThe use of nitrogen will probably continue to rise to meet population demands. This ensures food production does not slow down,\u201d said Angie Pelchier, Commercial Agriculture Educator with extension for the University of Illinois. \u201cIn many ways\u00a0Nitrogen can be beneficial for production, as it contains chlorophyll, which is vital for plant life. However, it also has some downfalls.\u201d<\/p>\n
When plants are harvested, certain amounts of nutrients are pulled from the soil. For crops to grow, an abundance of synthetic nitrogen is added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe problem with adding these synthetic fertilizers is that it removes a lot of the other natural nutrients that are present in the soil,\u201d Pelchier said.<\/p>\n
The nutrients that are removed are not only affecting the soil, but also the crops harvested for human consumption.<\/p>\n
This issue has caught the attention of Bradley University Dietetics Professor, Jessica Niggs.<\/p>\n
\u201cNitrogen or nitrate itself can be low toxicity, but when it is ingested it is transformed into nitrite, which can cause bacteria in the stomach and mouth,\u201d said Niggs.<\/p>\n
Niggs also mentioned that The Journal Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics <\/em>said there has been a link between nitrogen intake and the risk of gastrointestinal cancer. This data was further conducted by the Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Prevention of Cancer<\/em> and it proved there had been a link to nitrites and lung cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cIn general, Americans need to eat more fruits and vegetables. I would hate to see the use of these chemicals dissuade people away from consuming more produce,\u201d Niggs said.<\/p>\n So what can be done?<\/p>\n \u201cTo decrease the use of these fertilizers we need to go back to the basics,\u201d Pelchier said. \u201cThis means farming will have to become more localized to a particular town or city, that way there is not one commercial farm feeding millions.\u201d<\/p>\n In general, Peoria is a farming community. However, Pelchier mentioned farms in the area also feed other towns across Illinois.<\/p>\n The localization of Peoria farms may reduce the amount of harmful nitrites consumed by the public.<\/p>\n \u201cStart small and it will eventually grow into something bigger,\u201d said Pelchier. “We need to start to be aware of what we are eating that way we will know how many nutrients we are consuming.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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