Originally published February 23 2006
Ag experts warn of the potential dangers that surround fertilizing crops with human waste
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The website of the Organic Consumers Association reports on the practice of fertilizing non-organic farms with sewage sludge.
Web note: The solution to toxic sewage sludge--already being implemented in some European countries-- is to strictly separate out residential sewage from industrial sewage, create a closed loop for industrial wastes, keeping them out of the environment, and composting human waste.
See the book Toxic Sludge is Good for You by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton for more information.
RED CLOVER TOWNSHIP - Joe Jerikovsky smiled as he gazed at the piles of dark, rich fertilizer on his Carlton County hayfield.
Opponents say treated human waste is unproven, environmentally unsafe, and unhealthy for animals and people.
Five days a week, 52 weeks a year, five semi-trucks leave the WLSSD plant hauling treated sewage sludge -- called biosolids -- to Northland farms and mineland reclamation sites.
Pouring nutrients that humans consume back into the land is beneficial, they believe.
The EPA promotes spreading it as fertilizer, calling it the preferred disposal option.
"The complaints about industry waste are unfounded.
The level of mercury in WLSSD sludge is so low, for example, that it would take 1,500 applications on one field to exceed current EPA standards, and nearly the same number for lead.
They would help solve the oversight issues.
But there's no commitment (from the federal government) to actually do any of them," Kester said.
Despite the regulation problems, Kester said, the principles of recycling sludge are sound.
"As an engineer, I believe we can mitigate the problems as they arise," he said.
"The bottom line is that (sludge) is a valuable nutrient source.
It's certainly better than burning or burying it."
JOHN MYERS covers the environment, natural resources and general news.
� 2003 Duluth News Tribune and wire service sources.
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