Dead zones a troubling result of runoff
It is troubling news to read in the July 31 article that excessive use of nitrogen-based fertilizer and increased rainfall due to global warming, is leading to larger than normal algae blooms in our ocean waters, “Warming to worsen dead zones, algae blooms choking U.S. waters.”
The fertilizer runoff has created dead zones at places like the mouth of the Mississippi river the size of Vermont; these are expected to increase by 20 percent in the years to come.
The fertilizer causes phytoplankton (microscopic algae) to grow rapidly, which then die off. This results in the consumption of dissolved oxygen in the water, killing fish for thousands of square miles. Managing fertilizer use efficiently can ensure abundant crop growth while reducing contaminated runoff from heavier rains associated with climate change.
Perhaps our Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, could support farmers in the usage of sustainable practices, saving billions in reduced fertilizer cost. Our environment is worth the effort.
DIRK VAN DER GRINTEN, CHAMBLEE
Plant’s chosen technology out of date
The issue that I find most troubling in the controversies surrounding Plant Vogtle is the decrepit “Gen 2” design that our U.S. power companies seem determined to follow. The nuclear power plants Southern Co. and Georgia Power have chosen (and too similar to the plants that Santee Power and SCANA have abandoned) are completely out of date and toxic. Current technology is “Gen 4” — much safer and cheaper to build and operate. Yet these reactors are not even legal to consider in our country. This is the controversy we need to address, rather than throwing more billions of ratepayer’s money after dangerous dinosaur nuclear plants.
BRENT C. FORKNER, CARTERSVILLE
About the Author
