Spreading sewage sludge on farmland just two times can pose risk to soil, according to new @JamesHuttonInst research (commissioned by @FidraTweets) - in particular when it comes to microplastics..đ§”
endsreport.com/article/19004âŠ
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Sewage sludge - also sometimes referred to as âbiosolidâ fertiliser - is a by-product created as part of the sewage treatment process and is often sold to farmers as fertiliser for its nutrient-rich content...đ§”
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In September, my ENDS investigation revealed that sludge fertiliser sold to farmers by water companies contains a banned âforever chemicalâ at levels in excess of those considered safe in emerging science.
(Free to read đ)
endsreport.com/article/18894âŠ
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This is all happening in the context of the USA, where high levels of PFAS has been found in water, crops, cattle and soil on farms where sludge had been spread - it's seen some farmers put out of business.
Full investigation đendsreport.com/article/18893âŠ
Dec 19, 2024 · 1:24 PM UTC
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As it stands in UK regulations, water companies need only test their sludge for a limited number of contaminants before selling it, most of which are heavy metals. They are not required to test for PFAS, microplastics, pesticides, or insecticides.. đ§”
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However, @JamesHuttonInst's said that its assessment returned âappreciable risk estimatesâ for PFOS, PFHxS and PFOA in sludge. PFOS is a suspected carcinogen - and was the forever chemical at the centre of my earlier investigation.
endsreport.com/article/19004âŠ
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The report adds that sewage sludge provides âa significant route for microplastics to reach soils & the wider environmentâ...
endsreport.com/article/19004âŠ
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..and that 40% of the pharmaceutical & personal care products tested in sludge posed a notable risk to soil health after a single application.
endsreport.com/article/19004âŠ
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This is a fast moving and developing area of science, and campaigners such as @FidraTweets are calling on UK governments to take a precautionary approach when it comes to allowing sludge to be applied to farmland.
Here's the @JamesHuttonInst report đ
fidra.org.uk/download/james-âŠ
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