Phosphates

Organophosphorus compounds derived from phosphoric acid. Phosphates are used in agriculture as fertilisers. Emissions of large quantities of phosphates are released into the environment by mining. Phosphates have a lot of effects on organisms. Indeed, increasing phosphorus levels in surface water increases the growth of phosphate-dependent organisms, such as algae and duckweed. Water then becomes rather unlivable for other organisms. This phenomenon is called eutrophication.