Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Fertiliser made from human faeces and urine is 'safe' to use on food crops, say scientists
SKY News ^ | January 19, 2023

Posted on 01/19/2023 5:01:31 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

Fertiliser made from human faeces and urine is safe to use in agriculture and has "huge potential" to replace 25% of current synthetic products in some countries, according to research.

The findings come as farmers continue to struggle with rising fertiliser costs due to a combination of climate change and the war in Ukraine.

Researchers screened human waste for 310 chemicals - including rubber additives, insect repellents and pharmaceuticals - and only found them in 6.5% of the samples examined, but still at low concentrations.

Scientists said low levels of the painkiller ibuprofen and mood-stabilising drug carbamazepine were found - but added that someone would have to eat more than 500,000 cabbage heads to accumulate a dose equal to one pill.

Author Franziska Hafner, a student at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, said products made from human urine and faeces "are viable and safe nitrogen fertilisers" and "did not show any risk regarding transmission of pathogens or pharmaceuticals".

The peer-reviewed research has been published in the journal Frontiers In Environmental Science and comes amid record-breaking food inflation, with many shoppers struggling with supermarket bills.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.sky.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: excrement; faeces; feces; poop; urine
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 last
To: Flaming Conservative

Chickens ear bugs, fish, etc., are they not meat eaters?? Chicken poop is used daily in fertilizer for home gardening


61 posted on 01/19/2023 9:11:22 AM PST by srmanuel (t)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: JesusIsLord

Technically, milorganite is made from the bacteria that feed on sewer waste water.


62 posted on 01/19/2023 9:11:30 AM PST by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: srmanuel

I did say that apparently, bugs don’t count.


63 posted on 01/19/2023 9:18:57 AM PST by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

There are many smaller sewage treatment plants where the waste solids are fermented, releasing methane, which is used to power the plant, and breaking down many of the drugs and other contaminants. When finished fermenting, the waste is heated and dried, using the same methane, which kills any pathogens and breaks down more chemicals. The product is a safe and fairly effective fertilizer.


64 posted on 01/19/2023 9:40:03 AM PST by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

There’s a gulf of difference between human feces and sewage.

Sewage includes everything you flush down the toilet, including cleaning products and toilet paper plus everything that washes down the storm water because in many places sewage and storm water systems are combined.

They’re trying to get farmers to use the sludge from sewer treatment plants.


65 posted on 01/19/2023 10:54:43 AM PST by RedMonqey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Brawndo has electrolytes that plants crave.


66 posted on 01/19/2023 10:55:44 AM PST by Right Brigade (It was better before they voted for whats his name,this must be the New World)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: srmanuel

Because human pathogens spread easily through, you guessed it, human feces.

That’s one reason why diseases run wild in Asia because they use crap to fertilize their rice paddies.
My Pop was in Korea was saw this first hand.


67 posted on 01/19/2023 11:01:25 AM PST by RedMonqey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: bigfootbob

Mexicans working picking think nothing about squatting in the field wiping with their hand and resume picking your favorite fruit or vegetables, especially the organic kind.


68 posted on 01/19/2023 11:06:53 AM PST by RedMonqey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Hasn’t Milorganite been used for a long time? It”s a fertilizer made from sewerage.


69 posted on 01/19/2023 12:20:43 PM PST by TNoldman (AN AMERICAN FOR A MUSLIM/BHO FREE AMERICA. (Owner of Stars and Bars Flags))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson