Monday, March 21, 2011
Did You Know That Food You Eat May Be Growing In Stuff That You Once Flushed Down The Toilet?
With an ever-increasing population, it seems clear that manufacturers must find new and modern methods of producing enough food to feed everyone. Farmers all over the world have begun to find new ways of fertilizing their crops in an effective and seemingly sustainable manner: biosolids. These biosolids are exactly the byproducts of domestic and commercial sewage treatment. In other words, it is human waste that has been treated repeatedly to remove any toxins and pathogens, which is then used by farmers as fertilizer to grow crops which we will eventually consume, only to start the cycle all over again. Human waste is rich in phosphates which are vital to plant growth, and a Vancouver company is already developing a process by which the phosphates can be extracted, which could turn into an enormous industry in it. But are biosolids really the best choice to address our needs? Could they be the fuel of the future? As we move towards new and sustainable resources, biosolids might be able to answer all our needs.
Although already treated, biosolids have been often seen to be breeding grounds for bacteria, pathogens and other contaminants that would be taken in by the plants which we would end up consuming. Biosolid treatment plants take great care in proving that contaminants are dealt with. The waste is forced, heated, and the pH is raised to kill off anything that would eventually be harmful to humans. Groundwater can also be permanently contaminated by drained biosolids. The main concerns about using biosolids as fertilizer are the harmful effects that they could have on our health and the environment. But biosolids have been used as fertilizers for many years now, and scientists cannot provide any evidence of sickness or health issues related to their use.
The positive effects of biosolid fertilization are quite evident in its maintaining. The source of the fertilizer comes from our waste, which would come from the use of food. The energy continues to be used in a cycle and fuels the agricultural area in a way that doesn’t use up many resources, but things that were already present and would have ended up in a landfill anyways. In a sense, by using the waste as fertilizer instead of allowing it to sit in a landfill and contribute to our large garbage output, it is a great eco-friendly solution to a large problem modern society has to deal with. And as more and more companies are developing methods to create fuels or sources of energy from biosolids, it seems possible that they could be used as ways to greatly reduce the carbon footprint agriculture leaves on the environment.
Everything has its pros and cons, and it’s often seen that endures must be made to take full advantage of the pros. The cons of biosolid fertilization are definitely issues that are cause for concern, but have been addressed in the way of sanitation and removal of pathogens. It seems quite evident that the use of biosolid as fertilization is a very good alternative to traditional fertilizers that end up with the same results. The effect biosolids have on the environment is very uncertain, but the possibility of leaching into groundwater is also a problem of landfills. If care is taken to ensure the safety of the groundwater, biosolids are a great way to fertilize crops in an eco-friendly manner.
Even with all that biosolid fertilization can offer, people feel that it is disgusting since we eventually eat food that was previously grown in our waste. It’s easy to say the majority of North Americans consider our human waste as disgusting, but if it is contributing to a greater cause, what’s the difference? They’re not directly eating the biosolids, but plants that take the otherwise unused nutrients from our waste and twist. Who’s to say that simply because it doesn’t accommodate to the views of society that we shouldn’t be attempting to move towards new innovation? Even at the moment, fertilizers being used right now can come from other waste sources simply because they actually help the growth of plants.
Biosolids, although technically the stuff that we don’t want anymore, seem to be an energy source of the future, being used for phosphates and other compounds, while being used as fertilizers of the present. There are some downsides, but it seems the eco-friendly sustainability of the process is proof that modern society is moving towards new and improved ways of doing things that need to be changed. Although it seems gross, biosolids are simply the first step on the path to a new, more sustainable tomorrow.
Sources:
The Beauty of Biosolids - Environmental Health Perspectives
Biosolids seen as a fertilizer alternative - Southeast Farm Press
Biosolids/Sewage Sludge - Greenworks
Sewage Sludge, Pros and Cons - Mindfully.org
Comments:
Dora Lam
Harriet Austria
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