RISE IN THE CONSUMPTION OF CHEMICAL FERTILISERS, RESULTING INTO RISE IN LIFE THREATENING DISEASES & DEATHS
Dear Indian Citizens,
Purpose of these blogs is to enlighten The Common Man about environment problems, its severity, its causes, their solutions & joint action plan as The Citizen of India, to save our proud Heritage Country.
In my first blog in this series, we understood the overall problems faced by us. The effect on our health will be discussed with some factual figures as published by Govt. of India. In this blog.
Synthetic chemical fertilizers have been widely used in agriculture to boost crop yields. However, its increased use has been linked to environmental and health risks, including the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, respiratory issues, and cardiovascular conditions. While direct cause-and-effect relationships can be challenging to establish definitively, there is growing evidence that environmental contamination from excessive chemical fertilizer use contributes to these health problems. Here are some statistics to refer:
Use of Synthetic chemical fertilisers in India | |||
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Period: Year wise | Quantity in LMT | Quantity in MMT | Year Wise Rise |
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2015-16 | 510 | 51 | Base Year @100 |
2020-21 | 590 | 59 | 15.69% |
2022-23 | 638.3 | 63.83 | 25.16% |
2023-24 | 648.4 | 64.84 | 27.18% |
Specific Consumption | |||
UREA 2023-24 | 35.78 | ||
DAP 2023-24 | 10.81 | ||
MOP 2023-24 | 1.64 | ||
NP_NPK 2023-24 | 11.07 | ||
SSP 2023-24 | 4.54 | ||
63.84 |
Year Chemical fertiliser Consumption.
2022-23 136.2 kgs per hector
2023-24 139.8 kgs per hector
Death percentage is on rise due to NCD’s like Diabetes, BP, Heart & Kidney diseases In Inda NCD=Non-Contractible Diseases. | ||
Year | Nos. in Millions | Percentage |
1990 | 37.90% | |
2016 | 61.80% | |
2018 | 5.87 | 63% |
2022 | 6.85 | 70% |
Overview of chemical fertilisers effect:
1. Contamination of Food
Nitrate Accumulation: Crops grown with excessive nitrogen-based fertilizers may accumulate nitrates, which can convert into nitrites in the human body. This can lead to conditions such as methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) in infants and potential carcinogenic effects.
Heavy Metals: Some fertilizers contain heavy metals (like cadmium, arsenic, and lead) as impurities. These can accumulate in crops and enter the food chain, posing risks of heavy metal toxicity.
· Food crops grown with high levels of fertilizers might contain residues that affect consumer health.
2. Water Pollution and Its Health Effects
Nitrate Leaching: Excess nitrates from fertilizers leach into groundwater, contaminating drinking water sources. Consumption of nitrate-polluted water has been linked to:
Increased risk of gastric and oesophageal cancers.
Thyroid disorders due to interference with iodine uptake.
Eutrophication: Fertilizer runoff into water bodies promotes algal blooms, leading to the production of harmful toxins. These toxins can cause skin irritations, liver damage, and neurological effects in humans exposed to contaminated water.
3. Air Quality and Respiratory Issues
Ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizers contribute to poor air quality. Prolonged exposure to these gases can irritate the respiratory system, aggravating conditions like asthma and bronchitis.
4. Soil Degradation and Indirect Health Effects
Overuse of synthetic fertilizers depletes soil of organic matter and beneficial microbes, reducing the nutritional quality of crops. Poor nutrient profiles in food can indirectly affect human health by contributing to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals.
5. Potential Long-term Risks
Exposure to Toxic Residues: Continuous exposure to fertilizer-related pollutants (through food, water, and air) has been associated with chronic diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and reproductive health issues.
2. Cancer Clusters in Fertilizer-Intensive Regions:
Studies in regions like Punjab, known as the "cancer belt," suggest a correlation between heavy agricultural chemical use (fertilizers and pesticides) and increased cancer rates.
Our observations based on Govt. & NGO data available: Between 2015 and 2024, India has seen a significant rise in various health issues.
For instance, the prevalence of diabetes has notably increased, with an estimated 828 million adults globally affected by the condition by 2022.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has also gained prominence as a critical health challenge, moving from the 19th to the 11th rank among leading causes of death, contributing to approximately 2.6 million deaths due to its association with cardiovascular diseases.
Liver diseases account for about 2 million deaths annually worldwide, which underscores the growing health burden in India as well.
Hypertension and heart problems are also on the rise due to lifestyle changes and increasing stress levels, although specific statistics for these conditions in India from 2015 to 2024 aren't detailed in the sources. The general trend indicates a worrying escalation in the prevalence of these non-communicable diseases.
Between 2015 and 2025, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are projected to continue to significantly impact mortality in India. In 2017, it was reported that approximately 5.87 million deaths, accounting for about 60% of all deaths in India, were attributed to NCDs. By 2022, this figure had increased, with NCDs accounting for around 70% of all deaths. This trend suggests that the mortality due to NCDs is a pressing concern for public health in India.
So going back to the questions in previous blog, as I have said earlier, answer to all questions is ONLY YES.
1. Is the use of chemical fertilizers directly impacting the health of consumers?
2. Do I genuinely care for the well-being of my family and future generations?
3. Can we create an agricultural system that benefits farmers, consumers, and the environment equally?
4. As an Awakened Consumer & Citizen of India, Can I contribute effectively to mitigate this alarming situation?
Though the answer is YES to all above questions, in my first & this second blog I have already discussed Global Warming caused by GHG’s, the damages caused by GHGs, chemical fertilisers role in it & their impact on Human Health, Soil & Water.
In my upcoming blog I am going to discuss about the SOLUTIONS, we as Citizens of India can provide to the Nature & Humanity. We will find answers to questions no.2 & 3 in the upcoming blogs. Answer question 4 will be discussed in the Blog titled ACTION PLAN.
Regards,
Dr. Avinash Sane,
Agriculture Business Management,
50+ years of Domain Expertise in Finance, IT, Marketing & Sales.
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