permaculture

["Wordgarden" <wordgarden@iinet.net.au>]

roxann asks:
> have there been any studies done on pharmaceutical traces/accumulation in
the sludge?

There are lots of studies showing the presence if endocrine disruptors in
municipal sewage outfall. Which upset reproductive functioning in fish and
other aquatic organisms.
I don't know off-hand of any similar studies done on the sludge, but I would
guess that plants would not be affected by endocrine disruptors or
pharmaceuticals. The farmers applying it would need to be careful.

 Here's an interesting article from "New Scientist"

Sewage waters a tenth of world's irrigated crops

Human waste can produce bumper crop yields where water is in short supply,
reveals the first global survey of the hidden practice...
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996297
12:01  18  August 2004


 cheers,
Robert