Phosphorus is present in all living organisms and is an essential nutrient. For example, calcium phosphate is the principal material in bones and teeth. Phosphoric acid is the common acid of phosphorus and it is a brown/green viscous liquid with a slight acid odour. There are a large number of inorganic phosphorus compounds and they often combined with e.g. metals such as sodium, potassium, calcium and aluminium.
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Common name: Phosphoric acid, calcium phosphates, aluminium phosphates and sodium phosphates.
Use
The major use of phosphorus compounds is in fertilisers. Phosphorus compounds are also used commercially in detergents, water softeners, pharmaceuticals, and toothpaste and as food additives.
Releases to the environment
The main source of release into the environment is particularly from fertilisers from agricultural land, and cleaning detergents containing phosphates. Other sources include human sewage, the food industry, and the fruit and vegetable industries, and pulp and paper manufacturing.
Impacts on the environment and human health
The release of large quantities of phosphates into the aquatic environment can have significant adverse effects because of algae blooms, which in severe cases completely cover water bodies and consuming much oxygen in the process. A major problem with phosphate pollution is that it persist for a long time within aquatic environments. Excessive exposure to some chemicals in this diverse group may affect health.
International actions
Phosphorus is listed as priority hazardous substance in of the EU Water Framework Directive and in the Basel Convention controlling the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes. Furthermore phosphorus is on the EU-Commissions EPER list and listed in the PRTR Protocol under the Århus Convention.
CAS NO: Phosphoric acid: 7664-38-2