Phosphorus

In nature, phosphorus is found mostly in the form of phosphate ions— PO 4 3 − \text PO 4 3 − ​ start text, P, O, end text, start subscript, 4, end subscript, start superscript, 3, minus, end superscript . Phosphate compounds are found in sedimentary rocks, and as the rocks weather—wear down over long time periods—the phosphorus they contain slowly leaches into surface water and soils. Volcanic ash, aerosols, and mineral dust can also be significant phosphate sources, though phosphorus has no real gas phase, unlike other elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. Phosphate compounds in the soil can be taken up by plants and, from there, transferred to animals that eat the plants. When plants and animals excrete wastes or die, phosphates may be taken up by detritivores or returned to the soil. Phosphorus-containing compounds may also be carried in surface runoff to rivers, lakes, and oceans, where they are taken up by aquatic organisms. When phosphorus-containing compounds from the bodies or wastes of marine organisms sink to the floor of the ocean, they form new sedimentary layers. Over long periods of time, phosphorus-containing sedimentary rock may be moved from the ocean to the land by a geological process called uplift. However, this process is very slow, and the average phosphate ion has an oceanic residence time—time in the ocean—of 20,000 to 100,000 years. This illustration shows the phosphorus cycle. Phosphorus enters the atmosphere from volcanic aerosols. As t...

SelfDecode has the strictest sourcing guidelines in the health industry and we almost exclusively link to medically peer-reviewed studies, usually on PubMed. We believe that the most accurate information is found directly in the scientific source. We are dedicated to providing the most scientifically valid, unbiased, and comprehensive information on any given topic. Our team comprises of trained MDs, PhDs, pharmacists, qualified scientists, and certified health and wellness specialists. All of our content is written by scientists and people with a strong science background. Our science team is put through the strictest vetting process in the health industry and we often reject applicants who have written articles for many of the largest health websites that are deemed trustworthy. Our science team must pass long technical science tests, difficult logical reasoning and reading comprehension tests. They are continually monitored by our internal peer-review process and if we see anyone making material science errors, we don't let them write for us again. Our goal is to not have a single piece of inaccurate information on this website. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please leave a comment or contact us at [email protected]. Note that each number in parentheses [1, 2, 3, etc.] is a clickable link to peer-reviewed scientific studies. A plus sign next to the number “[1+, 2+, etc...]” means that the information is fo...

Phosphorus is a mineral your body needs to work well. It is found in many foods and drinks and in certain medicines. Your body uses phosphorus, along with calcium and vitamin D, to keep your bones healthy and strong. However, too much phosphorus in your blood can harm your body. The type of phosphorus in your blood is called phosphate. Your kidneys work to balance phosphate and other electrolytes in your blood, which help to balance the fluid levels in your body. What is high phosphorus (hyperphosphatemia)? High phosphorus, also called hyperphosphatemia, means you have extra phosphorus in your blood. High phosphorus is often a sign of kidney damage. For someone with healthy kidneys, the normal amount of phosphorus (phosphate) in the blood is between 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL. How is high phosphorus diagnosed? To know if you have high phosphorus, doctors will test the phosphate level in your blood. If your phosphate level is higher than 4.5 mg/dL, your doctor may do other tests to check for kidney disease. What are the symptoms of high phosphorus? High phosphorus often does not cause symptoms itself. However, extra phosphorus in your blood can remove calcium from your bones and other parts of your body, leading to low calcium (also called hypocalcemia). Low calcium does cause symptoms, such as: • Muscle cramps • Bone and joint pain • Weak bones • Itchy skin or rash As phosphorus removes the calcium from your bones, they become weak and unhealthy. This means you have a greater chance...

Fertilizing a corn field in Iowa. Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture Phosphorus, the 11th most common element on earth, is fundamental to all living things. It is essential for the creation of DNA, cell membranes, and for bone and teeth formation in humans. It is vital for food production since it is one of three nutrients (nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus) used in commercial fertilizer. Phosphorus cannot be manufactured or destroyed, and there is no substitute or synthetic version of it available. There has been an ongoing debate about whether or not we are running out of phosphorus. Are we approaching peak phosphorus? In other words, are we using it up faster than we can economically extract it? In fact, there is plenty of phosphorus left on Earth. Animals and humans excrete almost 100 percent of the phosphorus they consume in food. In the past, as part of a natural cycle, the phosphorus in manure and waste was returned to the soil to aid in crop production. Today phosphorus is an essential component of commercial fertilizer. Because industrial agriculture moves food around the world for processing and consumption, disrupting the natural cycle that returned phosphorus to the soil via the decomposition of plants, in many areas fertilizer must now be continually applied to enrich the soil’s nutrients. Most of the phosphorus used in fertilizer comes from phosphate rock, a finite resource formed over millions of years in the earth’s crust. Ninety percent of the w...

Disclaimer:This article isfor informational purposes only andisnot intended to be a substitute for medical advice or diagnosis from a physician. Phosphorus, a mineral, may be in many foods you consume. Research shows that even in early To help guide you in knowing which foods are low in phosphorus, here are 7 lists of low-phosphorus food choices for a 1. Low-phosphorus meat and poultry choices Fresh or frozen red meats without breading, marinades or sauce are better choices for a kidney diet. On average, fresh meat contains 65 mg of phosphorus per ounce and 7 grams of protein per ounce. Phosphorus content for a 3-ounce portion, cooked: Meat or Poultry Phosphorus Content Beef, pot roast 155 mg Beef, sirloin steak 195 mg Chicken breast,skinless 190 mg Chicken thigh,skinless 150 mg Hamburger patty, 90 percent lean 170 mg Lamb chop 185 mg Pork chop 200 mg Pork roast 190 mg Turkey breast meat, skinless 185 mg Turkey thigh meat, skinless 170 mg Veal chop 200 mg 2. Low-phosphorusseafood choices Seafood is an excellent source of low-fat, high-quality protein. Phosphorus content for a 3-ounce portion, cooked: Bread Phosphorus Content Bagel: cinnamon raisin, blueberry, plain, onion 53-70 mg Corn tortilla, 6-inch 75 mg English muffin 52-76 mg Flat bread 48 mg Flour tortillas, made without baking powder 20-37 mg French or Italian bread or rolls 28-29 mg Light wheat bread 38 mg Pita bread, white 58 mg Sourdough bread 30 mg White bread 25 mg 4. Low-phosphorus pasta and rice choices Past...

Menu • Home • How to use this website • What is Global Change? • Close • Understanding Global Change 101 • Understanding Global Change Infographic • How the Earth System Works • Atmosphere • Biosphere • Elemental Cycles • Geosphere • Global Energy Budget • Hydrosphere • Causes of Global Change • Human causes • Non-human causes • Measurable Changes • Atmosphere • Biosphere • Geosphere • Hydrosphere • Quality of human life • Weather / extreme events • Close • Teaching Resources • Close • Planning for Instruction • Example Units and Lessons • Downloadable Graphics • Infographic • Icon Sets • Earth Scene • Close • Construct a Model The phosphorus cycle refers to the movement of phosphorus within and between the biosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere. The phosphorus cycle matters because phosphorus is an essential nutrient for sustaining life on Earth, where it plays a central role in the transfer of energy within organisms, the structure of the genetic material, and in the composition of cell membranes, bones and teeth. When other resources such as light and water are abundant, ecosystem productivity and biomass is often limited by the amount of available phosphorous. This is the primary reason we mine phosphorus, which serves as an essential component of the fertilizer used to enhance soil quality for agricultural activities. Global Change Infographic The phosphorus cycle is an essential part of How the Earth System Works. Click the image on the left to open the Understanding G...

In nature, phosphorus is found mostly in the form of phosphate ions— PO 4 3 − \text PO 4 3 − ​ start text, P, O, end text, start subscript, 4, end subscript, start superscript, 3, minus, end superscript . Phosphate compounds are found in sedimentary rocks, and as the rocks weather—wear down over long time periods—the phosphorus they contain slowly leaches into surface water and soils. Volcanic ash, aerosols, and mineral dust can also be significant phosphate sources, though phosphorus has no real gas phase, unlike other elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. Phosphate compounds in the soil can be taken up by plants and, from there, transferred to animals that eat the plants. When plants and animals excrete wastes or die, phosphates may be taken up by detritivores or returned to the soil. Phosphorus-containing compounds may also be carried in surface runoff to rivers, lakes, and oceans, where they are taken up by aquatic organisms. When phosphorus-containing compounds from the bodies or wastes of marine organisms sink to the floor of the ocean, they form new sedimentary layers. Over long periods of time, phosphorus-containing sedimentary rock may be moved from the ocean to the land by a geological process called uplift. However, this process is very slow, and the average phosphate ion has an oceanic residence time—time in the ocean—of 20,000 to 100,000 years. This illustration shows the phosphorus cycle. Phosphorus enters the atmosphere from volcanic aerosols. As t...

Fertilizing a corn field in Iowa. Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture Phosphorus, the 11th most common element on earth, is fundamental to all living things. It is essential for the creation of DNA, cell membranes, and for bone and teeth formation in humans. It is vital for food production since it is one of three nutrients (nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus) used in commercial fertilizer. Phosphorus cannot be manufactured or destroyed, and there is no substitute or synthetic version of it available. There has been an ongoing debate about whether or not we are running out of phosphorus. Are we approaching peak phosphorus? In other words, are we using it up faster than we can economically extract it? In fact, there is plenty of phosphorus left on Earth. Animals and humans excrete almost 100 percent of the phosphorus they consume in food. In the past, as part of a natural cycle, the phosphorus in manure and waste was returned to the soil to aid in crop production. Today phosphorus is an essential component of commercial fertilizer. Because industrial agriculture moves food around the world for processing and consumption, disrupting the natural cycle that returned phosphorus to the soil via the decomposition of plants, in many areas fertilizer must now be continually applied to enrich the soil’s nutrients. Most of the phosphorus used in fertilizer comes from phosphate rock, a finite resource formed over millions of years in the earth’s crust. Ninety percent of the w...

Phosphorus is a mineral your body needs to work well. It is found in many foods and drinks and in certain medicines. Your body uses phosphorus, along with calcium and vitamin D, to keep your bones healthy and strong. However, too much phosphorus in your blood can harm your body. The type of phosphorus in your blood is called phosphate. Your kidneys work to balance phosphate and other electrolytes in your blood, which help to balance the fluid levels in your body. What is high phosphorus (hyperphosphatemia)? High phosphorus, also called hyperphosphatemia, means you have extra phosphorus in your blood. High phosphorus is often a sign of kidney damage. For someone with healthy kidneys, the normal amount of phosphorus (phosphate) in the blood is between 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL. How is high phosphorus diagnosed? To know if you have high phosphorus, doctors will test the phosphate level in your blood. If your phosphate level is higher than 4.5 mg/dL, your doctor may do other tests to check for kidney disease. What are the symptoms of high phosphorus? High phosphorus often does not cause symptoms itself. However, extra phosphorus in your blood can remove calcium from your bones and other parts of your body, leading to low calcium (also called hypocalcemia). Low calcium does cause symptoms, such as: • Muscle cramps • Bone and joint pain • Weak bones • Itchy skin or rash As phosphorus removes the calcium from your bones, they become weak and unhealthy. This means you have a greater chance...

SelfDecode has the strictest sourcing guidelines in the health industry and we almost exclusively link to medically peer-reviewed studies, usually on PubMed. We believe that the most accurate information is found directly in the scientific source. We are dedicated to providing the most scientifically valid, unbiased, and comprehensive information on any given topic. Our team comprises of trained MDs, PhDs, pharmacists, qualified scientists, and certified health and wellness specialists. All of our content is written by scientists and people with a strong science background. Our science team is put through the strictest vetting process in the health industry and we often reject applicants who have written articles for many of the largest health websites that are deemed trustworthy. Our science team must pass long technical science tests, difficult logical reasoning and reading comprehension tests. They are continually monitored by our internal peer-review process and if we see anyone making material science errors, we don't let them write for us again. Our goal is to not have a single piece of inaccurate information on this website. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please leave a comment or contact us at [email protected]. Note that each number in parentheses [1, 2, 3, etc.] is a clickable link to peer-reviewed scientific studies. A plus sign next to the number “[1+, 2+, etc...]” means that the information is fo...