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THE HERALD OUTLOOK Saturday September Page Certain commercial fertilizers affect air quality By Georgian The Environmental Impact of Fertilizer Synthetic nitrogen and phosphate type commercial fer tilizers affect air quality most closely associated with health pro blems and pollution Nitrates in nitrate forms of nitrogen fertilizer are not all ab sorbed by the soil and plants Under normal agricultural condi tions to 20 per cent of the nitrates can oxidize into the at mosphere Parker Pratt The Nitrate of Effluents from Irrigated Land Riverside California Nitrates reaching the stratosphere can damage the ozone layer which filters potentially dangerous ultraviolet rays before they can reach the earths surface Emis sions of fluorides and particulates during the manufacturing process of phosphate fertilizers can also contribute to air pollution Soil is contaminated by salt and impurities contained in synthetic fertilizers where runoff is a pro blem ie fertilizer applied to lawns on a slope are emptied into a nearby stream to contaminate water sources far from the original application is the natural ag ing process that bodies of water undergo When excessive nutrients are added to lakes as in runoffs the algae multiply in dizzying amounts Their subsequent death and decomposition utilizes oxygen from the water creating an im balance which in turn causes fish to suffocate Accelerated eutrophication also makes water more difficult to treat for drinking Research shows that highly solu ble nitrogen fertilizers con taminate underground sources of watep to be pumped up by well pumps Commercial fertilizers are no longer being used routinely in home gardens Many people feel that vegetables fruit and or namentals grown in soil containing large amounts of organic matter are healthier Consequently they use organic soil additives The new goal for the home gardner is to maintain soil quality over a long period Utilization of large amounts of nitrogen is being ques tioned Compost manure seaweed and fish emul sion are some of the alternatives which provide nutrients in a slower steadier dosage improv ing soil structure and also supply ing micronutrients that plants re quire for healthy functioning It seems probable that the lush vegetative growth which nitrogen stimulates is more susceptible to pest injury disease and cold and may actually be responsible for some plant growth problems as well as damaging to the environ ment Landscapes are being planned from an ecological perspective with what is good for the earth at the core of the planning easier more efficient maintenance without benefit of chemical pollutants More attention is given to growing plant varieties with natural builtin resistance to pests and diseases In small areas not subject to heavy foot traffic lawns can be replaced with lowgrowing ground covers which have little or no fer tilizer requirements such as creep ing thyme wooly yarrow or Cunn ingham mint On hilly Slopes low walls terplanted with perennials and shrubs will slow down runoff This garden technique known as terrac ing holds the soil together during winter and spring and is effective in controlling erosion Drip irrigation systems which release water very slowly at the root zone have practically no runoff Such systems can reduce water expenditure from to per cent over conventional sprinkling systems Examine the alter natives You can make a dif ference 26 Guelph Si Georgetown EAGLE involves Ombudsmans office By BEN DUMMETT The Herald The Ombudsmans Office of On tario is set to investigate the pro vinces Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Environment in connection with the quarry operations of United Aggregates Limited on Lots and 22 and Con cession in Halton Hills according to a letter sent by the om budsmans office to the local en vironmental group Ecology Awareness Group Landscape and Environment EAGLE The letter which is signed by Nancy Parker an Ombudsman in vestigator states we have notified the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of En vironment of our intention to in vestigate EAGLEsJ concerns Andrew a lawyer with the legal services branch of the confirmed that the Om budsmans office has informed the ministry that it will be carrying out an investigation The Om budsmans office has requested that the MNR gets its view of EAGLEs concerns confirmed Mr MacDonald Kal the executive assis tant to the Deputy Minister of the MOE also confirmed that his ministry has been notified about the investigation Neither would comment on their respective ministrys responses to the Ombudsmans office According to the letter sent to the MOE the investigation will centre on dissatisfaction with the delay by the Ministry of En vironment in addressing the members EAGLEs en vironmental concerns and their re quest for designation of the expan sion of the United Aggregates Limited quarry operations under the Environment Assessment Act The tetter to the MNR slates the investigation will focus on dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Natural Resources decision to not put conditions on the license of United Aggregates Limited restricting expansion of its quarry operations until en vironmental concerns and have been addressed Guelph St Rear Entrance Georgetown MISSISSAUGA HEARING INSTRUMENT SERVICES Hearing Instrument Practitioner of Ontario We will provide FIHAKCIAL ASSISTANCE the purchase of hearing aids or residents in Ontario who need them IN HOME SERVICE NO CHARGE EVENING APPOINTMENTS office East Drive Suite Bramalea Closed Thursdays CALL COLLECT 416 7918143 ESTHETICS TANNING TONING Wo Specialize In Full Body Cure MikeUp Manicures Piercing Pedicures Sun Tanning Eierctst Tint Machines ThefidoorMa Georgot DENTURE THERAPY CLINIC AW TRENTON DT 18 CHURCH STREET GEORGETOWN f ACROSS FROM LIBRARY JH AND CULTURAL 8772359 PROBLEM Contaminated drinking water SOLUTION THE WATER DEPOT Guelph St Georgetown Friday Saturday September 21st 22nd WINTER COVERS INGR0UND 14 X 28 76 16X32 red 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