Biosolids (human waste) are used as sustainable agricultural fertilizers in some parts of the world. This means the food that we consume are grown and ripened by the stuff that comes out of us. However, farmers don’t think of it as we do. Farmers actually find biosolids very useful and a great innovation. Question: Are biosolid fertilizers unsanitary or valuable?
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| Biosolids as fertilizer |
Pros
Biosolids are treated sewage waste meaning they are refined before being used as fertilizer. Therefore, it is filtered, but not a 100% pure. Then again nothing is. Moreover, research proves that the health hazards are minimal. As mentioned earlier nothing is perfect, so health wise biosolids used as fertilizers is not a bad option.
Biosolids has a good effect on the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Environment Federation (WEF) and Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies all promote biosolids recycling as an environmentally safe and cost-effective solution for managing wastewater residuals. These factors benefit not only the farmers, but the society, too. Biosolids contain a vast amount of nutrients. Some of which are nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and other trace elements. All these are essential in productive agricultural soils. Moreover, they contain organic matter, which can't be artificially manufactured. Organic matter plays a significant role in soil structure. It improves moisture retention, tilth and the ability of soil. It also increases the uptake of nutrients and minerals in plants. It basically improves crop production. Additionally, it reduces erosion and protects the quality of water. Water is improved because soil is improved, as well. This means the water-holding capacity of soil is increased. Lastly, biosolids are eco-friendly as they are recycled waste. Thus, they conserve precious landfill space. Biosolids are a huge innovation as it has a sparse risk of harming anything within the earth.
Biosolids has a good effect on the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Environment Federation (WEF) and Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies all promote biosolids recycling as an environmentally safe and cost-effective solution for managing wastewater residuals. These factors benefit not only the farmers, but the society, too. Biosolids contain a vast amount of nutrients. Some of which are nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and other trace elements. All these are essential in productive agricultural soils. Moreover, they contain organic matter, which can't be artificially manufactured. Organic matter plays a significant role in soil structure. It improves moisture retention, tilth and the ability of soil. It also increases the uptake of nutrients and minerals in plants. It basically improves crop production. Additionally, it reduces erosion and protects the quality of water. Water is improved because soil is improved, as well. This means the water-holding capacity of soil is increased. Lastly, biosolids are eco-friendly as they are recycled waste. Thus, they conserve precious landfill space. Biosolids are a huge innovation as it has a sparse risk of harming anything within the earth.
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| Sewage Treatment Flowchart |
Cons
When there is good, there is also bad.
Biosolids fertilizer is food grown using our poop. Gross. Biosolids are also said to be made of pharmaceuticals, steroids, flame-retardants, metals, hormones and human pathogens, among other things. According to EPA, there are 100 toxins found in sewage sludge. However, Dr. Alan B. Rubin, a principal author of E.P.A. concluded that while more long-term research needed to be done, he was convinced that biosolids — including those containing the compounds recently listed by E.P.A. — pose no serious health risk. Dr. Alan B. Rubin further added on the topic of biosolids, "it is causing an impact on the quality of life."
Although, research proves health risks are involved and our minds jump to the conclusion that biosolids are unsanitary, it is proven that quality of life is improved.
Biosolids fertilizer is food grown using our poop. Gross. Biosolids are also said to be made of pharmaceuticals, steroids, flame-retardants, metals, hormones and human pathogens, among other things. According to EPA, there are 100 toxins found in sewage sludge. However, Dr. Alan B. Rubin, a principal author of E.P.A. concluded that while more long-term research needed to be done, he was convinced that biosolids — including those containing the compounds recently listed by E.P.A. — pose no serious health risk. Dr. Alan B. Rubin further added on the topic of biosolids, "it is causing an impact on the quality of life."
Although, research proves health risks are involved and our minds jump to the conclusion that biosolids are unsanitary, it is proven that quality of life is improved.
Thoughts
In this issue, the potential stakeholders are us, the public. We are the consumers and personally biosolids are the right way to go. They have contributed positively to every aspect that they are used for, aside from the fact that there are possible health risks. Then again, nothing is 100% perfect. Finally anything environmentally friendly is an automatic approval.
Biosolids as fertilizer? Beneficial? Valuable? 100% YES!
Refrences:
- http://www.durhamsap.ca/works.asp?nr=departments/works/sewer/biosolids/biosolids1.htm&setFooter=/includes/biosolidsFooter.inc
Hey Jessica!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog, you brought up a good point. For people who are worried that biosolids are unsanitary and not clean, but you know what the reality is, nothing is 100% pure. We should be concerned about preserving our earth, and by using natural products to grow our agriculture, we are staying green!
I really liked your blog, and I agree that biosolids as fertilizer is beneficial to us.
Hey Little J,
ReplyDeleteNice blog! It's really good to know that the health hazards for biosolids are minimal. Biosolids is a great way to recycle and it is cost-effective. I also liked how you used a sewage treatment flowchart, it really puts things into more of a perspective. I 100% agree that biosolids is a valuable and important.
Hey Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your post. It's true that the use of biosolids is extremely beneficial to the environment. To your point about some people being disgusted by biosolids and worried about their cleanliness, EPA approves of it-- I think that's valid proof that biosolids are a great alternative to other fertilizers!
Keep up the great work.
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteGreat read I enjoyed your blog as it was very informative and it camptivated the audience's attention. I agree with you, there are many positives and potential negatives to biosolids. But the fact that no negatives have actually been proven, the worst is smell and there is even a solution for that, biosolids are an excellent way to fertilize crops. Not to mention that they are even more healthier than the average fertilizer themselves. Great blog Jess!
HEY JESS!
ReplyDeleteGood job on our final bioblog! You're one of the few people you could list the cons, and then pull the old, 'nothing's 100% perfect' line. You're blog clearly explained the pros of biosolids, and would make any dibeliever come to the brown side in this case. The only issue I had with your blog was very minor; next time make the wording a darker font colour if you want to hightlight it in a bright a colour as your personality. Other than that I thought the blog entry was informative and precise.