(NaturalHealth365)  Imagine driving past a landfill and quickly closing your windows to block out the stench.  Yet there’s a far more sinister threat: towering mountains of radioactive fertilizer waste silently poisoning our environment and endangering our health.  This crisis demands immediate action, as these toxic peaks jeopardize our environment and well-being.

A group of environmental organizations has filed a notice of intention to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its mishandling of radioactive fertilizer waste regulation.  The EPA allegedly failed to regulate phosphogypsum, a byproduct of radioactive fertilizer that creates massive piles of leaking waste that pose a hazard to people, animals, and the environment.

EPA failed to set proper safeguards for disposal and handling of this hazardous material

The notice of intent to sue the EPA points out that the piles of fertilizer waste are supposedly radioactive and carcinogenic.  These open-air radioactive dumps, often towering over 200 feet tall and spanning hundreds of acres, are truly concerning.

If the notice of intent to sue progresses to an actual lawsuit, the federal agency may be compelled to take protective action to better safeguard the planet and its inhabitants.  The plaintiffs, representing public interest advocacy groups and individuals residing near these manmade dumps containing significant amounts of phosphogypsum, seek accountability and measures to address the potential risks these sites pose.

Why phosphogypsum is a threat to public health

This radioactive substance forms during the production of phosphoric acid, which is commonly used in fertilizer.  Along with its leachate, it contains various hazardous substances, such as chromium, cadmium, lead, and arsenic.  Even low levels of exposure to these substances have the potential to cause cancer and harm several organs.

These radioactive waste piles are found in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida.  Florida’s situation is particularly concerning, with over a billion tons of the substance spread across 25 stacks.

Surprisingly, the United States ranks among the top phosphate producers globally, trailing only two other countries.  Additionally, four abandoned Superfund waste sites in Mississippi, Illinois, and Idaho once housed phosphate plants.

Unless laws and regulations change, the fertilizer industry will continue to produce nearly 50 million tons of this radioactive substance annually.  This amount of waste exceeds the regulated hazardous waste generated by all other industries combined.

Assessing the potential lawsuit’s chances of success

Three massive corporations are allegedly responsible for dumping a significant amount of radioactive waste to create landfills.  The problem is that those landfills are exposed to the open air everyone breathes.

There is a good chance that the lawsuit will succeed.  If the plaintiffs win the lawsuit, the pollutive corporations will be found negligent, meaning the ruling will state the polluters failed to provide due care to the general public.  A successful verdict for the plaintiff will also likely force the corporations to either find a way to contain the open-air piles of radioactive waste or decrease their size.

Be mindful of the ingredients if you use fertilizer in your garden, farm crops, or other space. Opt for organic, all-natural fertilizer or your own DIY compost for safe garden and crop growth.

Sources for this article include:

Thenewlede.org
Childrenshealthdefense.org