Biosolids: Human Waste, or an Alternative to Agriculture?

Biosolids after being treated by sewage system plants.

When the term biosolids comes to mind, automatically one visualizes human waste, all the waste that is flushed down the toilet that enters the sewage system, which is then treated in sewage treatment plants, creating a product known as sewage sludge. Disgusting right? It is definitely something that isn’t appealing to the mind. What about the idea of having biosolids used as a sustainable agricultural fertilizer? Okay, it’s still not appealing... but it sure is a realistic alternative to our current agricultural practices.

Farmers, fertilizing their fields using chemicals.

Before we can recognize the validity of biosolids as a great alternative to current agricultural practices, we must clarify the damage that these current methods of agriculture have to our world and to the human population. Currently, a lot of our world’s agriculture is fertilized with chemicals. When the term chemicals come to mind, one can visualize a product that is man-made and unsafe. Chemicals, aside from damaging the ecosystem, can cause leeching, or groundwater pollution. Often times they are highly acidic, thus resulting in high acidic levels in the soil that stunt plant growth and kill microorganisms that help supply nitrogen to plants.

Diagram depicting sewage sludge and its conversion to biosolids that will be transported to agricultural fields.

Biosolids on the other hand, are mostly organic solids resulting from the treatment of wastewater that have undergone additional treatment to kill pathogens (agents of disease) and that have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for land application as fertilizer and soil amendment. Aside for its use as fertilizer and soil amendment, there are many other pros for using biosolids, they include:

·         Improvement in crop production- It helps improve, replenish and maintain healthy soil by adding important nutrients, boosting soil water-holding capacity and reducing topsoil runoff, all of which serve to increase crop yields.

·         Reducing soil erosion and protecting water quality- The organic matter in biosolids assists with binding soil particles. The result is improved soil properties, including texture and water-holding capacity, which enhances root growth and increases the drought resistance of vegetation.

·         Providing topsoil for recreational uses- Biosolids compost is commonly used by landscape designers, nurseries and soil blenders for building lawns and turf, mulching plant beds, establishing new vegetation and general gardening.

·         Reclaiming striped-mined lands- Biosolids replaces lost topsoil and improves soil fertility and stability, decreasing erosion. Enrich forestland

·         Conserving landfill space- According to EPA, recycling biosolids can help to conserve landfill space, freeing up disposal capacity for a community's solid wastes

·         Providing economic incentives- In communities where disposal costs have risen because of diminishing landfill capacity, biosolids recycling can lower a community's waste disposal costs.

With every alternative, unfortunately, there are always a few cons. Biosolids have a distinctive smelly odour, which might be strongly disgusting to people. This odour is caused by compounds of plant nutrients sulphur and ammonia.  The other, more major concern is pathogens; the spread of diseases can be very common when working with biosolids, which essentially is harmful to humans. Although, some biosolids are treated extensively, to make sure there are no pathogens and others are treated to reduce pathogen levels.

Sewage sludge in a landfill not being used as biosolids, harming plants, organism, and the atmosphere.

                In the end, only we can decide whether or not we should use biosolids as an alternative. Everyone is enticed to their own opinion and only they can decide whether or not they think biosolids are right for the future. I definitely think that we are influenced by the western view of human waste as an unsanitary and disgusting nuisance. Biosolids should not be judged based on its content but instead on its performance. In my opinion, biosolids are the way to go; essentially they are good for our soils and are way better then chemicals.  As mentioned, assertively there are cons towards this topic but these cons can all be reduced to a point where they do not pose as a danger to humans, animals and ecosystems. Putting the biosolids that we produce to use are better than having them stay in landfills where they pollute our air and take up unnecessary space.

References:

"Biosolids: Fertilizer or Pollution?" Sencer.net. Lynchburg College Virginia 1903. Web. <http://www.sencer.net/Outreach/pdfs/DCSymposium08/Posters/LUbiosolids.pdf>.

"Biosolids Recycling Facts - Ag Tech LLC." Making Biosolids the Smart Alternative - Ag Tech LLC. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.agtechllc.net/biosolids-facts.html>.

"Biosolids.com | About Biosolids: Biosolids Benefits." _. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.biosolids.com/benefits.html>.

"Chemical Fertilizer – Know The Facts Before You Decide | LawnCare.net." Lawn Care & Yard Maintenance Tips and Advice - LawnCare.net. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.lawncare.net/the-411-on-chemical-fertilizer/>.

Mitchell, Charles. "Biosolids Seen as Fertilizer Alternative | Content from Southeast Farm Press." Southeast Farm Press Home Page |. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://southeastfarmpress.com/biosolids-seen-fertilizer-alternative>.

"The Real Dirt on Sewage Sludge - Natural Life Magazine - Green Family Living." Natural Life Magazine - Green Family Living. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.naturallifemagazine.com/9712/sludge.htm>.

Photos:

http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/biosolids.html

http://www.agriculturalproductsindia.com/fertilizers/fertilizers-chemical-fertilizer.html

http://www.epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/biosolids/index.htm

http://petitcodiac.org/index.php?page=abandoned-landfills&hl=en_US

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The True Price of Feeding a Growing Population

Food is vital for every human being. It provides us with the essential amount of energy and nutrients to continue a healthy living lifestyle. Aside from health and nutrition, it is something that we can all enjoy, but we hardly ever wonder where all this food is coming from. Realistically, does anyone sit down and think about where the meat in their hamburger comes from or the lettuce in their salad? Agriculture is such an important aspect of life but is just vaguely understood.

Sustainable Farm



Industrial Farm



There are two main types of agriculture, industrial agriculture which is today’s dominant form of agriculture that relies on machinery, hormones and antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, large amounts of water, major-transportation systems and factory-style practices for livestock and crops. Or the alternative which is sustainable agriculture that involves food production methods that are healthy, do not harm the environment, respect workers, are humane to animals, provide fair wages to farmers, and support farming communities. All in all, both unparallel one another in methods of producing agriculture.



Factory farms allow no space for normal animal behaviour.



Today, our world population is estimated to be 6.9 billion, and is expected to grow to 9.1 billion by 2050.  The concern is that with such rapid growth of global human population, how could enough food be produced to feed everyone living on earth? Will the agricultural industry be able to keep up? In order to keep up with population and economic growth, food production should increase by 70% and meat production by over 200 million metric tons to reach 470 million metric tons by 2050 (The Millennium Project).  Now that’s a lot of food production! This would be nearly impossible to accomplish with sustainable agriculture, which is why industrial agriculture has captivated our world today.

A practice of animal mutation known as “debeaking” that takesplace in factory farms.

Industrial agriculture is not the right choice but is almost appearing to be the only choice. It is not only cheaper but it produces food much quicker in lesser time. “Factory farm” is the ideal name for farms today. Farms today, are actually large industrial facilities, not the green pastures and red barns that most of us imagine. In these farms there actually isn’t any grass or vegetation in the confinement area during the normal growing season. The proper name given to these facilities (farms) is Concentrated (or Confined) Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).   A large CAFO includes 1000 cattle, 2500 hogs over 55 pounds, or 125 000 chickens (Factory Farming). Now that is a lot of animals in one farm, one can only imagine how these animals are being taken care of. Animals are confined closely together in an indoor environment having minimal space to move, they are mutated to adapt to factory farm conditions, and are given low doses of antibiotics and hormones to ward off diseases and promote faster growth.

No frills advertises lower food prices.
I wonder where they get their food from.

                                Industrial farming is evidently harmful not only to the animals but to our own health and the environment. There are many concerns regarding this style of agriculture and there need to be a change. Yes, the human population is increasing immensely, but it doesn’t mean life expectancy rates need to decrease either. Ultimately all these hormones and antibiotics and style of farming are harming us, the consumers. We are unnoticeably eating these foods that can eventually harm us. It is wrong and degrading to realize what our world has come to.  Food should be a necessity not a virulent disease that we must try and avoid.

                                                                   

                                                                   REFERENCES

"Animals Used for Food | PETA.org." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): The Animal Rights Organization | PETA.org. Web. 08 Feb. 2011. <http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/default.aspx>.

"Factory Farming, What Is Factory Farm? - The Issues - Sustainable Table." Sustainabletable. Web. 08 Feb. 2011. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/factoryfarming/>.

"The Millennium Project." Global Futures Studies & Research by the MILLENNIUM PROJECT. Web. 08 Feb. 2011. <http://www.millennium-project.org/millennium/Global_Challenges/chall-03.html>.

"Sustainable Agriculture -- National Geographic." Environment Facts, Environment Science, Global Warming, Natural Disasters, Ecosystems, Green Living - National Geographic. Web. 08 Feb. 2011. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/sustainable-agriculture/ 
                                        
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Altering the Luck of the Natural Lottery

With the rapid advancement in scientific knowledge of the human genome and the increasing ability to modify and change genes, there was no doubt that one day we would have the option of designing our own child. “Designer babies” is the proper term used by the media to describe a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering combined with invitro fertilization to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes for desirable or cosmetic characteristics. The concept of “designing babies” has created various concerns regarding ethical and social implications among the public.

To some people the idea of designing a baby might come off as interesting, where literally parents are able to choose certain genes for their child to inherit, ultimately designing the perfect baby that is incapable of obtaining certain diseases. To others, this idea seems unethical where the process of life is being disrupted and not left to natural outcome. Although, there is some controversy when discussing the morality of this issue, that is, the reason to why a baby is being designed in the first place, to implement a healthy life style or to stand out from the rest and obtain self-pride.

Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a technique used in conjunction with InVitro Fertilization (IVF) is the only legal way to carry out advanced reproductive technologies on embryos to date. The process of PGD along with the juxtaposition of IVF allows scientists to remove a cell from an embryo prior to transfer back to the mother where the DNA in the cell can then be analyzed for novel or inherited genetic errors such as Down syndrome or cystic fibrosis. Normal embryos, based on the genetic analysis, are then chosen for transfer back to the mother’s uterus to achieve pregnancy so the child does not inherit those “bad genes”.

About a decade ago, six year old Molly Nash of Colorado suffered from rare genetic illness Fancomi anaemia, which is invariably fatal. Treated at the Illinois centre, by a team led by Charles Strom, director of medical genetics, they had conceived a son, Adam Nash, who was not only free of inherited disorder but had also been selected from the twelve available embryos to be the best tissue match for Molly, so he could provide a transplant of stem cells taken from his umbilical cord, to treat and potentially, cure her disease. In ones perspective, this may appear as advancement in medical technology, where now we can potentially save the life of others by designing people with the accurate genetics to serve as donors. In others perspective, such as mine, this seems ethically incorrect. Basically under Adam Nash’s circumstances, he was only conceived to save his older sister, other than that his parents did not really want him. Isn’t that not fair for the donor child and aren’t there risked involved in these procedures? But right, he is only a four week old child; he wouldn’t even know its happening. Wrong! He is a living being that deserves equal toleration and respect as any other person.

                 The idea of the perfect human being has been around for a long time. To me, the thought and process of designing a child to ones desire is an immoral practice, even if it is to save another child’s life.  Everyone is born into the world by random chance having unique characteristics and qualities that sets them to be different from any other human being. In my opinion, when we use processes such as Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis, it is a spit in the face for God. Before these new technologies came about, all human reproduction resulted from sexual intercourse, where couples had to prepare for the luck of the natural lottery. Now, with new technology we are able to alter, modify and dispose of this process and that is definitely inhuman and unethical.  

REFERENCES:

"Designer Babies: Ethical Considerations (ActionBioscience)." ActionBioscience - Promoting Bioscience Literacy. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. <http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/agar.html>.

"The Future of Designer Babies « Plausible Futures Newsletter." Plausible Futures Newsletter. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. <http://plausiblefutures.wordpress.com/2007/04/07/the-future-of-designer-babies/>.

Laurance, Jeremy, and Steve Connor. "Designer-baby Doctors Make Trouble for a Living. But They Weren't Prepared for This... - Science, News - The Independent." The Independent | News | U:K and Worldwide News | Newspaper. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/designerbaby-doctors-make-trouble-for-a-living-but-they-werent-prepared-for-this-634736.html>.

"PGD Technology Offers More Than Designer Babies." Medical News Today: Health News. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144448.php>.

"What Is a Designer Baby?" Bionet - New Discoveries in Life Sciences - Explore the Science and Debate the Issues. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://www.bionetonline.org/english/content/db_cont1.htm

PHOTOS: 

http://www.cpmc.org/images/pregnancy/pgd-embryo.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQHqoimdyec7xYNIEROctrEL_dOnOJBZ5cUNjbUvS_Db8_eA4Yjp5g3WoM_qjNwOJ5SC03HMllyHCKdBkPULuyFcK650b_ogMoXgrN3K4St2y2wajd3o-k8pI1Z5FR6ZNC3T-ugqLkFRS/s320/designer+baby+6.jpg

http://nwso.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/logo-baby.jpg

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