Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Elser, J. and Haygarth, P.2020. Phosphorus: Past and Future. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978‐0199916917. 229 p

2025; Wiley; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/lob.10685

1539-6088

Carrie Ann Sharitt,

Phosphorus and nutrient management

Thinking about phosphorus is quite abstract for large portions of the human population, and many of us have likely received blank stares from students when teaching about phosphorus. Yet, this element is relevant to everyone's life. Phosphorus is essential to DNA and ATP, it builds the bones in our bodies and plays a role in our diet, and phosphorus is a vital component of fertilizers, allowing us to feed our growing population. Yet, phosphorus has also caused environmental harm by polluting waters, and it's a finite resource with supplies constrained to just a few countries. The book Phosphorus: Past and Future presents phosphorus, a complex and abstract topic, in a digestible manner. The authors Jim Elser, a biologist at the University of Montana, and Phil Haygarth, a biogeochemist at Lancaster University, serve as self-described "publicists for phosphorus" providing a comprehensive overview of this crucial element. From the beginning of this book, the authors begin working to captivate the audience with interesting facts and humor such as the fact that all the waste produced from livestock in the United Kingdom could be piled 7 miles high in Wembley Stadium. Alongside these intriguing points, they provide a basic overview of the phosphorus cycle and the book. The authors then move on to discuss the chemistry of phosphorus (Chapter 2) and how living things use phosphorus (Chapter 3), including calculations of how much P is contained within our bodies. In Chapter 4, the authors take a health-centric approach examining the phosphorus-rich foods and the ways plants and animals, including humans, are impacted by too little/too much phosphorus. The book reaches a turning point to be more ecologically focused (beginning in Chapter 5) as the authors explain how phosphorus is mined and how phosphorus use has changed throughout human history, as well as how this has altered the ways that phosphorus is used by plants and recycled within ecosystems. At this point, it is clear to the reader that, while important, there are also problems associated with our use of phosphorus, which provides a nice transition into the exploration of how phosphorus pollutes aquatic systems (Chapter 6). This includes discussion on the success of phosphorus-based detergent bans and the continued impacts of "legacy phosphorus." Having highlighted some of the ecological issues associated with our use of phosphorus, the authors turn to social aspects starting with economics covering the spike in phosphorus prices that occurred in 2007–2008 (Chapter 7). Here, the authors also cover the beginnings of the sustainable phosphorus movement. Then, the book discusses the impact equation (I = P × A × T) and our need to work towards a better future in which we improve efficiency, minimize phosphorus waste, and reduce transfer to aquatic systems (Chapter 8). The importance of these actions is backed up with examples of technology that are already making phosphorus use more efficient (Chapter 9). In closing, the book provides readers with actions they can take to use phosphorus more sustainably, and it suggests that our world now needs system innovators who will maintain a systems perspective while also bringing innovative skills to help solve our phosphorus problem. Throughout the book, the authors do a good job of integrating relevant research into an interesting and engaging storyline. The authors did an impressive job of weaving in the stories of a large number of scientists including the "classical scientists" (i.e., Bourlog, Lawes & Gilbert, and Liebig) with contemporary folks. Including both the historical background while also recognizing the work being done to support a "phosphoheaven" now allows readers to recognize the ways scientists work to improve our world, something desperately needed more often in society today. Additionally, the authors do a good job providing images and figures throughout that are relevant and improve the reader's understanding, making the results of research projects easy to understand by a general audience. Furthermore, the authors acknowledge the seriousness of the current phosphorus crisis ("phosphogeddon"), but the book, overall, maintains a hopeful perspective focusing on the progress that has been made and ways everyday people can help create a "more radically optimistic future circular phosphorus system." These positive features of the book more than outweigh any weaknesses of the text. In particular, the inclusion of the chemistry background toward the beginning may be a technical challenge for nonscience readers to push through, reducing engagement with this section. Despite the inclusion of many global researchers and institutions, the book largely highlighted male researchers and those based in institutions in the global north, which doesn't necessarily represent the diversity of the scientific community nor the impact phosphorus issues have globally. Overall, Phosphorus: Past and Future does a good job of integrating many areas including chemistry, biology, economics, and sociology into one, brief book. While reading, I appreciated the author's informative and hopeful tone. The discussion about wizards, prophets, and systems innovators toward the end, provides readers with an optimistic outlook on our future. This optimistic outlook paired with actionable steps will leave readers feeling empowered to make a difference, a feeling that I want my students to take away from my courses. Thus, there's a strong chance my students will see a chapter or two as part of a future assignment, and I'd encourage colleagues to also consider this concise book (or sections of it) for use in their courses. Well researched and approachable, Phosphorus: Past and Future serves as a template for how scientists can cover big challenges without leaving readers stuck in a pit of despair.