Environmentally friendly soaps now available for home use are phosphate-free. Regular soap contains phosphates that are rinsed down drains, releasing phosphates into the environment. Which of the following statements BEST explains why excess phosphates are harmful to the environment? *1 pointPhosphates destroy the ozone layer.Phosphates are poisonous to plants an animals.Phosphates react chemically to form phosphoric acid, a component of acid rain.Phosphates promote explosive growth of plants in bodies of water.
Question
Environmentally friendly soaps now available for home use are phosphate-free. Regular soap contains phosphates that are rinsed down drains, releasing phosphates into the environment. Which of the following statements BEST explains why excess phosphates are harmful to the environment? *1 pointPhosphates destroy the ozone layer.Phosphates are poisonous to plants an animals.Phosphates react chemically to form phosphoric acid, a component of acid rain.Phosphates promote explosive growth of plants in bodies of water.
Solution
The statement that best explains why excess phosphates are harmful to the environment is: "Phosphates promote explosive growth of plants in bodies of water."
Here's why:
When phosphates are released into bodies of water, they act as a nutrient for plants and algae. While this might sound like a good thing, it can actually lead to problems. This is because an excess of nutrients can cause these organisms to grow at an explosive rate, a phenomenon known as eutrophication.
During eutrophication, the rapid growth of plants and algae can deplete the water's oxygen, making it uninhabitable for other aquatic life. This can lead to a decrease in biodiversity and disrupt the balance of the ecosystem. Therefore, phosphates from soaps and other sources can be harmful to the environment when they enter bodies of water.
Similar Questions
What is/are the problem(s) with excessive use of phosphorus in farming? Select all that apply.Phosphorus supplies are limitedSoil microbes use phosphorus to produce greenhouse gasesPhosphorus can pollute nearby water habitats
Select all that applyPhosphorus is an important matter of concern because Blank______.Multiple select question.phosphorus is abundant but useless to organismsphosphorus can lead to environmental pollutionatmospheric phosphorus is hard for plants to capturephosphorus is a key nutrientmost phosphorus in ecosystems comes from certain rocks and mineral sources that are in limited supplyNeed help? Review these concept resources.
Addition of phosphate fertilisers to water bodies causes:
Many resources pose risks to human health, for example poisonous chemicals, fuels and explosives. The use of these resources is often considered to be sustainable because people must follow safety rules when they use them.Discuss whether you think the use of asbestos could be made sustainable in the same way.
Cyanide, raw sewage, petroleum from shipping accidents, and detergents are all examples ofMultiple choice question.agents that lead to ozone depletion.acid deposition.water pollution.air pollution.
Upgrade your grade with Knowee
Get personalized homework help. Review tough concepts in more detail, or go deeper into your topic by exploring other relevant questions.