Final answer:
It is false that existing local laws ban the use of phosphorus for all uses except agricultural production; bans typically focus on phosphate-containing detergents to prevent eutrophication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether all local laws ban the use of phosphorus for all uses except agricultural production is false. While phosphorus can cause environmental damage by leading to eutrophication, which in severe cases can result in the depletion of oxygen in bodies of water and harm aquatic life, the banning of phosphorus use is typically specific to certain products rather than across all uses. For example, many states in the United States and countries like France have specifically banned the use of phosphate-containing detergents. Instead, 'phosphate-free' detergents that use alternative complexing agents are promoted. The creation of substitutes for phosphates represents a significant field of ongoing research.