Professional Documents
Culture Documents
in the Philippines
and its consequences
to the environment
greenpeace.org.ph
February 2008
Summary 2
I. Agriculture in the Philippines 5
II. Agrochemicals 6
Fertilizer use 6
Pesticide use 8
III. Water pollution 9
Nitrate pollution 9
Pesticide pollution 11
IV. Health risks associated
with nitrates and pesticides 12
Nitrates 12
Pesticides 12
References 13
Authors:
Reyes Tirado
Greenpeace Research Laboratories
University of Exeter (UK)
David Bedoya
Vladimir Novotny
Northeastern University, Boston (USA)
February 2008
www.greenpeace.org.ph
Fertilizer use increased 10 times, while rice and maize yield increased 2
and 3 times, respectevely, from 1961 to 2006 in the Philippines
800000 8.0
Fertilizer consumption (tonnes)
700000 7.0
600000 6.0
Yield (t/ha)
500000 5.0
400000 4.0
300000 3.0
200000 2.0
100000 1.0
0 0.0
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Years