Play Book Tag discussion

The Devil's Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance by Dan Egan. The author takes us around the world and through time, to learn about an element that most of us know little about. I enjoyed the stories and interviews and his writing style. This could be a dry book otherwise. He starts with a Florida Man story (funny news items that always start “A Florida man…”) I didn’t like this book as much as The Death and Life of the Great Lakes, but I learned a lot.

Phosphorus is a miraculous substance that is needed to feed the world. It’s also a poisonous chemical that is polluting lakes and beaches with deadly blue-green algae. It creates dead zones in water where nothing can live. It’s a good thing it smells bad, because it warns people to stay away, thereby saving lives. It has closed beaches and harmed fishing and tourism in some locations. Florida, Mississippi River, the gulf coast, and the Great Lakes were some of the areas mentioned. I live near one of the lakes affected.

Phosphorous has created drama and controversy with law makers and (even a king) around the world. He relates past lawsuits (e.g re laundry detergent), and upcoming legal fights.**He explains why US politicians are afraid to touch it. Many large industrial farms use too much and waste it. Some warn of a future shortage. Everyone needs it, and a large portion of the world’s mined supply is controlled by only one person. Animal and even human waste contain phosphorus, but many don’t want to think about it. (He provides a tip about where people don’t advise eating raw produce.)

**Added
There are some relatively simple ways for huge industrial
farms to decrease the run off and waste, but the US Clean Water Act specifically exempts the industry. I have a feeling we won’t see progress on that issue in the current political climate. I just read that The Supreme Court weakened a provision of the Clean Water Act on March 4, 2025.