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Question

How would fertilizers that flow into the Gulf of Mexico help the environment?

How would they harm the environment?

Answer 1

Superficially, the flow of fertilizers in the Gulf could provide nutrients to an area that is not normally highly nutrified. Unfortunately, the spike in nutrient concentration results in heavy proliferation of algae resulting in algal blooms. The algae uses excessive amounts of oxygen and essentially suffocates the nutrified area. These areas have been named "dead zones".