Download the Report (220 KB) Download the complete report by
clicking on the link above. This is a PDF file. The free Adobe
Acrobat Reader is needed to view the file. The recycling of
hazardous industrial wastes into fertilizers introduces several
dozen toxic metals and chemicals into the nation's farm, lawn
and garden soils, including such well-known toxic substances as
lead and mercury. Many crops and plants extract these toxic
metals from the soil, increasing the chance of impacts on human
health as crops and plants enter the food supply chain. This
report documents the highly toxic substances found by testing
fertilizers, as well as the strict regulations needed to protect
humans and the environment from these toxic hazards. Between
1990 and 1995, 600 companies from 44 different states sent 270
million pounds of toxic waste to farms and fertilizer companies
across the country. 1 The steel industry provided 30% of this
waste. Used for its high levels of zinc, which is an essential
nutrient for plant growth