How does obtaining starting materials such as salt and nitrogen affect the environment?

The extraction of starting materials like salt and nitrogen can have significant environmental impacts. Mining for salt can lead to habitat destruction, soil salinization, and disruption of local ecosystems. Similarly, the production and use of nitrogen fertilizers can result in water pollution through runoff, contributing to algal blooms and dead zones in aquatic environments. Moreover, the energy-intensive processes involved in synthesizing nitrogen fertilizers can increase greenhouse gas emissions, further exacerbating climate change.