What Is Food Pollution?

Food pollution is generally defined as the presence in food or associated with food of toxic chemicals (elements or compounds) and/or biological contaminants which are not naturally present in food or are above their natural background levels (for those chemicals which are naturally found in some foods)

Causes Of Food Pollution

The causes of food pollution are many. Basically, any pollutant that comes in contact with food has the potential to pollute the food. Various vegetables may get contaminated with toxic bacterial strains (from irrigation water, groundwater, or soil) which may only be destroyed by processing the polluted food at high temperatures.

Toxic chemicals, may get into the food causing food pollution in a variety of situations including:

i. Growing of food (e.g., crops, fruits, vegetables) in polluted soils, solid wastes (e.g., mine tailings) or areas with polluted groundwater;

ii. Irrigation of grown food (e.g., vegetables, fruits, crops) with polluted water.

Effect of Food Pollution

Food pollution can affect each of us by causing mild to severe food illnesses or, worse, contributing to or causing the development of serious health problems such as hormonal and metabolic problems, or even various types of cancer. Nervous system problems may also be induced by food polluted with certain pesticides.

Ways To Control Food Pollution

An alternative that may ensure production of less polluted food was recently proposed in Japan.

Thus, it was proposed to grow vegetables in factories which would eliminate the unpredictable effect of environmental pollution, unpredictable weather, or pests. The process would be all computerized, controlling various factors affecting growth. This safe food alternative is proposed by the Ozu Corporation in Tokyo.

Would this constitute the future of agriculture? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, we are still dealing with food grown on dirty land subjected to various food pollutants, pests, and unpredictable weather!

Food pollution risks are everywhere and all we can do is minimize individual exposure to polluted food by informing ourselves and taking action.

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What Is Food Pollution?

Food pollution is generally defined as the presence in food or associated with food of toxic chemicals (elements or compounds) and/or biological contaminants which are not naturally present in food or are above their natural background levels (for those chemicals which are naturally found in some foods)

Causes Of Food Pollution

The causes of food pollution are many. Basically, any pollutant that comes in contact with food has the potential to pollute the food. Various vegetables may get contaminated with toxic bacterial strains (from irrigation water, groundwater, or soil) which may only be destroyed by processing the polluted food at high temperatures.

Toxic chemicals, may get into the food causing food pollution in a variety of situations including:

i. Growing of food (e.g., crops, fruits, vegetables) in polluted soils, solid wastes (e.g., mine tailings) or areas with polluted groundwater;

ii. Irrigation of grown food (e.g., vegetables, fruits, crops) with polluted water.

Effect of Food Pollution

Food pollution can affect each of us by causing mild to severe food illnesses or, worse, contributing to or causing the development of serious health problems such as hormonal and metabolic problems, or even various types of cancer. Nervous system problems may also be induced by food polluted with certain pesticides.

Ways To Control Food Pollution

An alternative that may ensure production of less polluted food was recently proposed in Japan.

Thus, it was proposed to grow vegetables in factories which would eliminate the unpredictable effect of environmental pollution, unpredictable weather, or pests. The process would be all computerized, controlling various factors affecting growth. This safe food alternative is proposed by the Ozu Corporation in Tokyo.

Would this constitute the future of agriculture? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, we are still dealing with food grown on dirty land subjected to various food pollutants, pests, and unpredictable weather!

Food pollution risks are everywhere and all we can do is minimize individual exposure to polluted food by informing ourselves and taking action.

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First Community Portal for K-12