From strip mining to fertilizer production, to the dumping of radioactive hazardous waste, the phosphate industry creates a cradle-to-grave operation of land, air, and water pollution in Florida.
The industry cites the important advantages it brings to the state in taxes and employment, yet the long-term beneficial effect of phosphate mining on our economy will be slight.
Whatever taxes are realized are small when compared to the costs of the damage the industry creates. Florida will have centuries of costly water, air, and land cleanups ahead of it that will exceed any short-term profits and economic benefits.
The phosphate industry has created an economic and environmental burden for the taxpayers of Florida in the form of increased air pollution, destruction of roads, depletion and degradation of drinking water supplies, loss of non-renewable mineral resources, radioactive waste disposal, and increased health costs.
The Mosaic Company is the largest producer of potash and phosphate fertilizer in the United States. According to the Mosaic Company website, "Air quality is an important issue for communities around our operations.“
According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) -Division of Air Resource Management - Air Compliance and Enforcement Documents, five air quality violations have occurred at Mosaic facilities in Florida that required Formal Enforcement Actions as of October 8, 2022.
FDEP designates five Mosaic Fertilizer facilities as a "Major Source of Air Pollution“(Plant City Facility, Riverview Facility, Bartow Facility, South Pierce Facility, New Wales Facility).
The FDEP Division of Air Resource Management Air Permit Documents Actual Annual Emissions (tons per year) for 2021
Mosaic Fertilizer LLC Riverview Facility
Carbon Monoxide (CO) 16.5
Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) 160.2
Particulate Matter (PM10) 44.9
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 1279.6
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 1.7
Mosaic Fertilizer LLC Plant City Facility
Carbon Monoxide (CO) 20.24
Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) 9.96
Particulate Matter (PM10) 3.58
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 6.68
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 1.59
Mosaic Fertilizer LLC New Wales Facility
Carbon Monoxide (CO) 26.8
Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) 286.6
Particulate Matter (PM10) 118.5
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 3256.6
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 13.7
Mosaic Fertilizer LLC South Pierce Facility
Carbon Monoxide (CO) 8.9
Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) 39.9
Particulate Matter (PM10) 2.9
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 1413.2
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 2.7
Mosaic Fertilizer LLC Bartow Facility
Carbon Monoxide (CO) 39.4
Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) 181.7
Particulate Matter (PM10) 40.1
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 3674.0
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 10.7
Carbon Monoxide (CO) can cause harmful health effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body's organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues. At extremely high levels, CO can cause death.
Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) is a component in the formation of acid rain. NOX can cause lung damage. Children and people with asthma are particularly suspectable to the effects of NOX.
Particulate matter (PM10) effects on humans include asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is acidic and can cause permanent pulmonary damage as well as redness and pain to the skin and eyes.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) can damage soil and groundwater and contribute to air pollution. VOCs can react with nitrogen oxides and form ozone. Ozone causes respiratory problems in humans and can cause damage to food crops and other plants.
Until there is a link between the mining and processing of phosphate and phosphogypsum waste disposal, we will never fully realize the actual public health and environmental impact the phosphate industry has on Florida.
Glenn Compton is the Chairman of ManaSota 88, a non-profit organization that has spent over 30 years fighting to protect the environment of Manatee and Sarasota counties.
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